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FRANK D. ROGERS. 



JS97 
THOUSAND ISLANDS p-J3LISHINC CO , 

CLAPTON, N. y. 



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P(.BI ISHED BY 

FRANK D. ROGERS, 

CLAYTON, N. Y. 



FOLK=STORIES. 



FULLY ILLUSTRATED 

FROM DRAWINGS BY 
ROBERT H. ROGERS, UNION '99. 



To the memory of 

EDWARD C. ROGERS, 

Whose untimely taking off by the very elements 

he so much loved removes a brother and a 

critic upon whose practical knowl- 

eage of practical subjects the 

author was wont to draw, 

This work is affectionately dedicated. 



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CONTENTS. 



11 



Autobiography, 

Preface, ^"^ 

17 



Burial of Harry Millikin, 

Perry's Victory, (Old Song) 

The Dance at Johnny Beaver's, 25 

A Cannon Shotted AVith Gold Coin, 

The Legend of Calumet Island, . - - - 

Daniel Millikin, American, 

Wind and Weather Permitting, 63 

71 

132 

138 

143 



Wars and Rumors of Wars, . - - - 

Up the St. Lawrence, 1796, - - - - 
Down the St. Lawrence, 1818, 

Captivity of Mrs. Howe, 

A Pioneer's Hardships, 1^"^ 

1G5 

203 

210 



Folk-Stories, 

Three Links, 

A Bit of Topography, 

The French Settlers, ...--- - 218 

Two Old-Fashioned Boys, = 229 

The Last Haul; 



209 



COPYRIGHT, 

BY 

FRANK D. ROGERS. 



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A UTOBIOGRAPHY. 



The sponsor for this little volume has loiiix bcei! a eon- 
trihiitor to the leadino; periodicals along the lines of romance 
as well as deep thought. But his contributions hav(> l)een al- 
most invarialdy returned, when the return })0stage was pre- 
paid, aceom})anied by a [printed note indicative of a wholesale 
business in declinations, " on the grounds that our columns 
are not adapted to its publication, but as early as a meeting 
of the directors can be held the policy of our magazine will be 
changed to meet the requirements of your j)roduction. "' 

Clever, l)ut positively deceitful managing editors ! Thus 
ever has budding genius been stifled by sordid directors whose 
interest in the uplifting of humanity is confined to th.e ofhce 
clevatoi'. 

The author was born on the North Prairie in the rity t)f 
Chicago. True, lie first opened his eyes a hundred miles 
westward from Lincoln Park, Init the corjioration lines have 
been so often extended that it is believed the place of his birth 
is at present within the city limits. Tic had barely attained 
the age of five years than immediately the civil war broke out 
with all its attendant carnage. Even ;.t that tender age he 



12 AUTOBIOGKAPHY. 

was determined to enlist in his country's cause, and in fact 
was enrolled by a recruiting officer, but was recalled by paren- 
tal restrictions. At six he was a successful pilot of runaway 
slaves on the Underground Railway, much to the discomtiture 
of the largest slave-holders, who had put a price on his head. 
At the age of ten years he removed to New York state bring- 
ing with him his parents, Avhom he succeeded in giving a 
good common school education the following summer. At 
fourteen ho was yet undecided whether to practice medicine, 
be a blacksmith, join a circus, or run for congress. Haply the 
last rash choice was averted by his choosing a mercantile ca- 
reer, which he abandoned after breaking the firm by which he 
was employed in a little less than six months. He then 
adopted journalism, bought a newspaper which, however, an- 
other sold, but not until he had outdone Dr. Tannor's fast by 
eleven days, ]iot exactly as an experiment but rather as a mat- 
ter of necessity to which many editors uncomplainingly sub- 
mit, the while writing menus for each day of the week. Later 
he went on the road, but finding expenses greater than the com- 
bined sales and collections, he concluded to develop new^ fields, 
and so took up life insurance. With his usual aptness for 
the new and novel, he succeeded in writing one risk, extra 
hazardous, upon himself and never caught another. Then he 
started a magazine which a subscriber stopped because he was 
appointed receiver. Then and not till then did this great 
government of politicians, by the lawyers, and for the spoils, 
demand of our hero his immediate and undivided attention at 
Washington. Thither he went to bolster up a frail and totter- 
ing dynasty. He had no sooner thrown himself into the 
breach than congress convened and laid out work for a suc- 
ceeding congress by enacting new laws to be unmade at the 
next session. After deciphering the hieroglyphics which con- 



AlTOBIO(iRAPHV. 



i:>> 



oressmen are pleased to call " writin', " correcting their bad 
s|)ellin(^ and worse grammar, he paralyzed the whole govern- 
mental fabric- by resigning. " Not dead, but resigned, " they 
said of him, and he was sought by many and pointed out as 
one who had the nerve to cut loose from governmental dugs 
and face a blank and uncertain future upon his own resources. 
After having been connected with so many defunct enter- 
prises it was but natural that he should give his attention to 
an apprenticeship with an undertaker, one who laughs when 
others are in dead earnest, and straightens out a patient after 
the doctors give him up. 




PREFACE. 



The making of a book is accoin})lislie(l in many ways. 
In this particular instance the last chapter was written first. 
Then at odd times other chapters were written, and as the 
work progressed it received something like systematic atten- 
tion. The subject- matter is one in which the writer has ever 
taken a delightful intesest. It is a pleasure to write of the 
triumphs and record the trials constantly recurring in the sim- 
ple affairs of our forefather.-! whose heroic endurance made and 
saved our nation. They it was who made possible the as- 
tounding progress of this nineteenth century. 

The foundation of these stories of every day heroism is 
mainly from the lips of a paternal grand-mother whose simple 
though impressive language kindled an admiration for a peo- 
])le whose oftimes most heroic acts the historian has passed as 
unworthy of record in the face of warlike deeds. That the 
privation and sufiering, toil and combat patiently borne by 
the struggling pioneers, who in their unpretentious ways si- 
lently, and yet with irresistiljle energy, paved tiie way to pros- 
perity for successive generations, shall be the more keenly 
realized may be after all the purpose of putting a dress on these 
unpublished Folk-Stories of the Northern liorder. 

To make the stories appear continuous the same charac- 
ters have been employed, and that with a care to their indi- 
viduality in the incidents narrated. Inconsistencies of time 
will l)e discovered by keen readers who, noting tlie customs 
portrayed, may discover the generation in which the material 
facts sprang into existence. 

The world, is slow to recognize the every-day heroism ou 



i'uioi'Aci': 



1;1 



the tanii, in tlic kitrlu'ii or at llic desk. Xeverlbeless it is 
tliri'e. and often the sacritices nuidc in the daily discliaiiie of 
simple dntv aiiKunits to a lici'oisni worthy the i)en of a Ban- 
eroft. 

I)Urns saw poetry in a friohtene(l mouse and a broken 
daisy. A limpin,^ hare attract(>d his sympathetic i)en. Shak- 
s[)eare writes of sheep-shearino- and crcenwood shades. Seott, 
liyron and Pope turn the brilliancy of their oenius upon the 
dailv alfairs of men and there is a revelation as of the electric 
scarchdioht. The Bible itst'lf al)Ounds in tlie daily heroism of 
peoples of Inunble calling. Longfellow, l>ryant, Whittier, 
Emerson, Lowell, and the whole galaxy of Aniei'ican stars are 
not above the heroism of the humble walks of life. Ian Mac- 
laren has innnortabzed Looiealmond, the " Drunitochy " of 
his sketches, l)y bis dei)ictions of the homely Scotch life that 
existed in that community years ago, and our own New Eng- 
land life has latterly received some attention on that line. Not 
an old town in existence Init would furnish abundant nniterial 
for the story writer after the historian, scorning the j)recious 
dust and ore ri(di with pleasing memories, has de|»arted with 
the nuggets. 

Pictures of home life ! Paintings of the truedieai'tcd, hon- 
est i)oor I do read •• Ik'side the Bonny Brier i>ush :"' go see 
and hear Denman Thompson in "The Old Homestead, " and 
say whether it is author and actor, or the portrayal of the un- 
sullie<l lives of a true people, unknown to deceit and guile, 
that reacln^s the beai't^and starts the tear uid)idden. 

I'^olk-Stories had their existence in fact. They are )iot 
imagination or romance, but have a I'cal existence in the un- 
recorde<l annals of the American settlers of the St. Lawrence 
Pviver and Lake Ontario regions, once popularly known as the 
Black River countrv. 



Burial of Harry Millikin. 

Wlifii tli(> a]»p(>intc(l hour for the fuiuM-al arrived the 
neighbors and friends had gathered from the North and vSouth 
shores, from the ishmds and points, and from the settlement 
reeently founded at the head of the creek. Tlie men were 
grouped about the httle clearing in front of the ca]»in, and in- 
side the womenfolk busied themselves at notliing, or sat list- 
lessly holding their hands in their lajjs. In sulidued tones 
they discussed the incidents of the very few funerals they had 
attended "back east, " and many an eye moistened and many 
a breath shortened as the thought of friends and associations 
s?vered Ijy death and separation was brought the more vividly 
to mind ])y the mournful surroundings. The minister, a good 
old Presbyterian man, arrived on liorseback a full hour late, 
l)ut the delay caused neither sur|)rise nor vexatious connnent, 
for funerals were not conducted in a hurry nor with military 
jn-ecision in those days. The cabin was about 12 feet by l(i 
inside, with front and rear doors opening into the principal 
room on opposite sides. To the right of the front entrance 
stood a l)ed in a recess, its white valance of bleached cotton at- 
tracting much attention for the richness of the decoration. Blue 



IS lUHIA]. oi' UAIUIY MILLIKIX. 

cambric curtains, parted in the center and tied back with red 
braid completed the arrangement, except a linen coverlid, out 
of which the bedposts grew to the ceiling, and ending in a 
cherry knob. Next beyond the recess was a narrow stairway, 
and beyond that and taking n]) the corner was the thorn in 
the side of less favored housewives, a regular })antry with 
shelves. The remainder of the house below was at once kitclien, 
dining room and parlor, the fireplace and oven forming a re- 
spectalde annex, and opening convenieidlv into the side to the 
left. ' ' ■ 

On a })ine tal)le covered with an untinished piece of linen 
lay the coffin, a crude affair made l)y old J lank Tubbs, the 
cooper. It was fashioned out of pine boards, with but one an- 
gle in the sides, and stained a dirty black. The lid was cham- 
fered with a plane so as to leave a streak of nrdural wood 
around its edge. The handles once were lilack, but having 
seen long service on a tool chest they could lay no claim to 
the merit of newness. A few shavings had Ix'cn strewn on the 
bottom, by request, as even that sli )W of comfort was not cus- 
tomary. The rough interior was not relieved l)y so much as 
a bit of lace for it was believed tliat such " llxin's" were not 
only a waste of material but a downriglit sin r.s well. The 
emaciated form of Harry lay fkit u))on]iis biu-k, mouth ojjcu, 
eyes staring at the bare joist overhead, and liisarms and hands 
laid straight down his sides with the lingers spread in a con- 
vulsive grasp. That the sight was one that would terrify the 
most strong can not be denied, but it must be remembered 
that the undertaker's art had not reached the ideal at that day. 

The minister took a })osition at the head of the coffin 
whence he issued orders earnestly and with the sternness of a 
newdy appointed brigadier-general. The few relatives, besides 
the parents, filed down from the garret and were seated about 



Jn'KlAl. OK lIAltRY MlLr.IlClX. 19 

the cotliii on i)lanks supix^rted l)y l)locks of wood. A li.uidol)- 
servance of tlie order of relationsliip was maintained, the 
cousins com in, u' in hist. Jnch'ed no little commotion and a 
slio'ht delay was caused hy a third cousin who unwittingly 
seated herself in front of a second cousin of her fathei'. 

The o-ood man read the most of Deuteronomy, then turned 
l»ack to Clenesis and read and exi)Ounded for a o-ood half houi-. 
Then he started oil' on a lono- i)rayer which was of the most 
liheral character, ^eooraphically speaking, lie had i)assed 
Europe, Asia, and the other continents, the .u-overnment olii- 
cials, who were not nearly so much in need of it as in later 
years, and was excusing the failures of the ^\'higs, when a 
clock, lialf as tall as a man, set up a most frightful striking. 
At tirst it started off soberly to do business in the regulation 
manner, but no sooner had it discharged that duty than it was 
seized with a frenzy for striking. It i)ounded oif hfty and was 
]nerrily hurrying along toward the hundred mark when the 
good dominie, who had gradually raised his voice so as to l»e 
heard above the whir and clatter of the presumptuous, not to 
say irreligious timei)iece, ])eremptorily shouted in slu'er des- 
peration : 

•• Sto}) the clock ! " 
And then appeal! ugly — 
" Will some one stop the clock, ]^lease? ' 
For a moment no movement was made in compliance. 
Then Tim Fagan si)rang up, overturning a stool in his haste, 
and seizing tlie clock by weights, IkukIs aii.l piiululum, as if 
to choke it to death, restore.l .piiet and the g.x .1 man resumed. 
After the man at th(M-lock had kepi his grip on the olleuder 
for what seemed to him almost an entire day, he gradually n- 
leased his hold, back^'d carefully away and sat down— on tlie 
Hoor where his stool luul been. The fall st:irtl.-d everybody. 



20 BiTtlAL OK HARKY MILLIKIX. 

iiid all but stopped the preacher. The shock was transmitted 
to the wall, thence to the clock, which, with an ominous growl 
i)cgau to announce the fiioht of time on the twenty-four hour 
system, and finished the hundredth stroke just as the exaspei-- 
ited Tim wrenched it from its moorings and fiung it high out 
)n the wood pile. 

The prayer was followed Ijy some remarks, after which 
he march to the log schoolhouse was taken up. The coffin lid 
vhich had been standing against the wall, a horrid silhouette 
igainst the whitewashed sheathing, was now fastened to its 
dace by nails driven part way down so as to afford ea.sy Avith- 
Irawal. Then the burden was raised to the shoulders of four 
IS badly frightened boys as ever saw a corpse for the first time, 
ind borne to a cart to which was attached a pair of oxen. 81ow- 
y the procession wound over the irregular course to the log 
)uilding where the master held school in wdnter. There the 
■ofifin was deposited upon a table in the center of the room, the 
new taking one side and the women the other. For two mor- 
al hours the preacher dwelt upon the moral impossibility of 
'oung Harry's attaining a home with the blest, and empha- 
ized the discourse with such lurid w^ord-picturesof hissatanic 
aajesty's domain that the two Collins boys ran out screaming 
^d^en a dog crawled from an obscure corner. They believed 
he evil one himself had come to verify the awful utterances 
/hich had wrought up the entire congregation. Women sobbed, 
hildren cried aloud, and men controlled their feelings by grim 
ftbrts that were more painful than outright expression. 

" You will never see your little Harry again," consolingly 
houted the divine, " You will put away his boots, his cap, his 
kates and his sled — " 

The father groaned aloud. 

" You will have a vacant place at the table, and you will 



lUKIAI. ()!• 


■ HAKKY M J I.LI KIN 


e one that 


is oone when you 


wind and 


snow — " 



21 

over tliink of the one that is jyont when vou assemble lor each 
meal as the coh 

The mother shriekeil. 

'' His young companions will nnss him from the boyish 
games, from skating, swinnning. fishing, hunting — "' 

The dog howled. 

" I say again you will never see him in your midst for he 
will soon be laid away, food for worms and eventuate in dust. " 

A shudder ])assed over his hearers, but em])oldened by 
his success the heartless man sought to ])ind u]) their aching 
wounds l)y a peroration on the docti'ine of election. 

" If poor little Harry is among the elect let us rejoice; but 
if he is not then are we again admonished of the awful fate in 
store for most all of us. " 

"Let the chorister line the hymn while 1 rest my throat 
before proceeding to that 'narrow house, a house of clay' to 
hold the final of these, to me, impressive services. " 

A choir of six voices with tlute Jind bass viol accompania- 
ment rendered Duke Street from nmsic ])rinted with •' buck- 
wheat notes." The congregation was connnanded to " view 
the corpse. " This done, each one felt in duty bound to re- 
mark, " How natteral he looks ! " The procession was re-formed 
and slowly wound its way back to the Millikin clearing where 
a grave had been made. The coffin was lowered wdth ropes 
which sawed and rasped painfully as they were withdrawn, all 
but overturning it, so tenacious was tlie clay into which they 
were imbedded. There was no outside box, but in this in- 
stance a board was laid on the coffin to afford a sliglit protec- 
tion from animals of the burrowing kind. Then each of the 
bearers in turn seized a spade and threw in a clod of earth 
which fell upon the coffin with an echoing thump that nearly 
broke the remaining heartstrings of the now thoroughly pros* 



22 nriMAL oi' iiAKnv milukin'. 

trate ])arents. The moiiniers and friends shook hands with 
the preacher, and as they turned away I'enuu'ked in a distinct- 
ly audihle aside, "How well the elder done I'" 

That worthy was heard to reniai-k, after the ordeal, that 
he felt that he had "heen of great comfort to them, hecause they 
we])t co[)iously throuohout the whole discourse. " 

(Jreen grows the turf above Harry's gi-ave, with not so 
much as a sod to mark his resting place, '{"lie field has been 
alternated with the crops of the farm, lo, these many years, 
and my informant, an old man, l)ent and gray, to( k me as 
near the s[)ot as a memoiy faded by the cai'cs of si.xty and 
more years would direct. 

" It was about here, or mayha}) a leetle fnrder down, but 
the woods are gone and the iields so big 1 may be far astray 
from the spot. I was the ucxt youngest of tlu' bearers, and so 
long was I afeered to come anigh the spot I may have mis- 
calculated. " 

Miscalculated ! Reader it may not be so long until one 
may search in vain for your resting place and mine. 



Perry's Victory. 

Ye sons of ('olumhia ,uive ear to my story 

Who fought with hnive Perry where cannons did roar 
His valor lias gained you an immortal glory, 

Whieh will last till Father Time shall he no more. 

The tenth of Septemher, i pray let's i-ememher, 
As long as the globe on it's axis rolls round, 

Our tars and marine upon Lake Erie were seen 

To make the proud tlag of Great Britain eome down 

The van of our fleet the bold British did meet — 
Commanded by Perry the Lawrenci^borc down. 

Our guns they did roar with such terrific power 
The savage Britons did tremble at the great sound. 

The Lawrence sustained a most terrible fire ; 

She fought three to one for two glasses or more. 
(Gallant Perry, undaunted, firmly stood by her 

While the proud foe heavy broadsides did pour. 

Her masts are all shattered, lier rigging all tattered, 
Her yards and her booms being all shot away ; 

But few left on the deck to manage the wreck. 
Our hero on board her no longer could stay. 



24 PEltRv's Vlf'TOKY. 

Says Perry, " Those villains, they mean for to drown u> 
Push on my l)ravc> boys, you need never have fear. " 

Then he off with Iiis coat and i)lu,tiL!;ed up the l)oat 
And away through liri' and smoke he did steer. 

The famous Niagai'a, now proud of hci- Perry, 
Displayed all lier ])anners in valiant arr;iy. 

Twenty-five ^uns on her deeks she did earry 
Which soon ])Ut an end to this bloody r.U'ray. 

Pi'ave I*]Iliott, whose vadoi- must now be recounted,, 
On l)oard the Niagara he well played his j)ait. 

His oallant assistance to Perry aiforded 

Well placed him the second on Lake Erie's chart. 

Hurrah for our Hag! (ieneral Harrison, tool 

For Perry's bold fleet loud })raised by all powers. 

Hurrah for his message, may it ever prove true: 
" We have met tb.e enemv — and thev are ours. " 



^ 



The Dance at Johnny Beaver's. 

'• My iianu', liits .lolm I)a])tisto Ilivver. Ahm cum otl' 
Montrahall on raff, ino. Ahni cum hi re for fcesh wid yous. 
( Jot for me one job ? " 

Yes, Collins would give him a hand-share. 

" What dat you call handsheer? " 

It was explained. 

"Well, I get mebbe nothing, mebbe four tousand, me. 
Ahm lucky Bivver. Cum on go pullem seine rat off for make 
good cotch ([uite ]»Iain. " (Easy.) 

He was told it was too windy to cast out the nets. 

" Yaas? Bimeby she blow some m(jre. Wdiat-a-matter 
now ? Me no 'fraid watter, Ahm eum off Montraliall, me. 
Ahm no pecsoup Frencher. Ahm trappe vurry gross feesh 1)V 
Montrahall. " 

" My fambly on (h)ck. You got some shanty I live in 
for while?" 

One end of the cooper .shop was j>rovided for him, and in 
the foregoing scraps of conversation he was foi'iiially installed 
factotum on the Collins fishing grounds. 

Beaver was short, broad-shoul(lere(l and heavx-chested, 
active, and had a happy temperament. His cheek Ijom-^werc 
high, eyes black, beard thin and in patches, arms short, ("or- 



26 DAXCK AT .lUHNNY l!KAVKi;"s. 

(lui'oys, moccasins, a pea jacket, a velvet tocjiie on one side 
of his head, and a sash that once was red, gave him a rather 
jaunty appearance. His wife was a full-blooded white girl, 
superior to the life she must lead with him. She had mar- 
ried for better but could hardly liave done worse had she 
looked beyond a bare living and the rearing of a large family. 

La Famine made much of Johnny Beaver, while in turn 
he found much to almost reach the superlative in Montreal, 
the city to which he likened all events, all nature and all su- 
perstitions in the comparative degree. 

Beaver dearly loved music and dancing. Hearing a hd- 
dle in the hands of a lisherman he was stMzed with a desire to 
give a ])all, and forthwith set aV)out inviting all whom he met 
to come to his dance. A pack-peddler, a fish-peddler, who 
counted out tish as " forty-six, fifty-seven, " thus gaining ten, 
and (he new handsharers were alike bidden to come in his 
quaint vocabulary : 

" Ahm goin' mek one donee on my house. Vous all 
cum. 'Twon't be le grande bal masque like I mek on Mon- 
trahall, but all mans and womans round cum on. I tek de 
bed down, turn stove 'roun' ! Den yampytampy, yampy- 
tampy, " and Johnny, a full grown man, Imrsting with exuber- 
ance, improvises a partner out of a broomstick, and executes 
the French four with more vigor than grace. 

The stove, one of the elevated oven pattern, had been 
" turned around, " and heated red. At the farther end of the 
sliop a potash kettle was filled with live coals and set upon 
bricks. The remainder of the scant furniture was tossed out 
doors to makemore room. 

Johnny's guests began to arrive early, but many that 
were invited remained away. The host was in no wise grieved 
at the apparent slight for the reason that the absentees were 




• THE FIDDLER AVAS SEATED ON A SHAVING HORSE. 



DANCK AT .lOIIXXY ISKA V i:i{"s. 27 

fully r('])laco(I l)y tlio arrival of an cMnial nuinltci- who caiiu' 
without invitation. Anion^- tlie latter wore sonic younu" men 
who canic just fo see the fun, hut forgot their jturpose and 
joined merrily in the festive danee. 

The fiddler was seated upon a shavin«;-horse. and that in 
turn was i-aised iii)on a eouple of fish liarrels. Three sets 
'' foruKnl on'' and after alternately sawing- the strings and 
twisting the pegs, the fiddler settled haek and ])Oured hody, 
soul and arms into "The Laneers, " the while thumping with 
the sole of his right l)oot to the time of liis inusic. 

" Jine hands and circle I " 

Men in heavy hoots, red shirts, and coatless, made the 
plaidv iloor trenil)le at tlie word, and the human ring made a 
complete turn three l)ars ahea<l of the music, and liad time to 
lu'eathe hefore the next move was prompted. 

" First four for'ard and hack — alamand-de-left ! " 
Right hands elevated and with left arm akimho, palm out- 
ward, the figure is cut in a lively dance — no walking allowed 
— and the couples return to place once more to catcii hreath 
as the tardy music vigoroubly brings u}) the rear. 

" IJalance pard-ners — grand right and left !" 

A general grahhing of luinds, right hand, U'ft liand, any- 
body's hand, and return to place with ample time for those 
who have lost partners to make the ])ro])er exchange of posi- 
tions. Two changes and a " t)reakdown " is the rule of the floor, 
and panting, laughing, chattering, the three sets vacate the 
Iloor which is (piickly taken l)y tliosc who did not "get into"' 
the lirst sets. 

Johnny is called "Mr. Beaver" so fre(|ucntly as to cause 
him to imagine himself a member of parliament. lie beams 
right a lul left upon his guests, and after nnich coaxing con- 
sents to do a clog which makes him indeed a hero. This done 



28 DANCE AT JOHNNY ]5EAVEK's. 

he announces snpper in the following s})eecli delivered from 
the shaving-horse temporarily vacated f()r the pur[)Ose hy the 
string orchestra of one piece : 

" Xow, you'll mek ver' small racket while Ahm goin' hax 
yous for supper. Tain' ver' nice hut hits de hes' what we 
didn't get and de smoke sturgeon is de bess meat dat swims 
except the crane I never tass it. Ahm smoke it myself where 
I learn donn Montrahall Heat 'em all U}) and I ver' mooch 
tank yous for ten cent quite plain. Dats hall. " 

"■ Bung jour, " he added by way of a polite finish to his 
remarks, and jumping to tlie iloor lie walked on his liands to 
the end of the room and came to his feet by turning a hand- 
spring. The clapping of hands and remarks of approval 
hlled the simple-minded half-breed with joy unspeakable, and 
while preparations were made for lunch he gave an exhibition 
successively of the snake, green corn and canoe dances much 
to the disgust of his white wife who had never seen him make 
such an exhibition of savage customs. Her protests made 
him the merrier, and the encouragement given him by his 
guests led him to anotlier prank. Seizing a hatchet he per- 
formed the scalp dance over the fiddler and raised that wor- 
thy's scalp a dozen times, ending the performance with a 
Avhoop and throwing the hatchet with such skill that it stuck 
fast in a pine post forming a part of the frame. Some of his 
guests were slightly alarmed at this feature of the entertain- 
ment, but it was forgotten when tiie music again started. 

After lunch the dancing began in earnest. " ()])era. Reel, " 
"Moneymusk," and " ^FcDonald's 11 eel, " were ibllowod by 
an eight-hand reck 

Truthful compliments were cxcliaiigcd, the nnisic ])r()- 
nounced th(> best, and the luncli a feast, on this felicitous occa- 
sion. The onlv waltzers in the party were Nancy Marceau 



DANCE AT JOHNNY I'.KA VKK S. T-) 

and .I(»l»y Collins wlio lijul been sweetlioarts siiu-c iii1ancv.ii 
was (lec-lared. They had the floor to tlu'insdvcs for tlu' third 
time wIk'ii a grntl' voice called from outside tlie partly o])eii 
door : 

'• Xan ! " 

Xaiicy tnrneil about and faee(l her fatlier wlio had Inirried 
across lots when liis <lanoliter was misstnl. ('hokini;,- with 
rai;-e he hoarsely growled : 

"Xan, yon dro|) that eur and coiiu' straight home!" 
The excitement was evident, Init sur[)ressed. The liddler 
rested, and Xancy plead : 

" (_)li, now, })a ! Come in and waltz just once witli me. 
Do come I Just once!" And the saucy uirl waltzed alone to 
the door and held out a hand invitinoly to the man whom no 
otlier. man or woman, dared cross when he was in ani;-er. 

'■ Don't l>e a fool, Nan, " he said, half ph>a<liiiiily, " come 
away and don't have notliink to say to a relative of old I lank 
Collins. You know who cut my seine, Nanny, 'twere old 
JIank and I never forgets. " 

" ( )h ! dam the seine, pa, if I must say it. You will liold a 
grudge the longest of any man ! Come in now, daddy, and 
teach the boys to waltz. Come ! 

The old lion was tamed as usual wlieii lie sliook hismanc 
at his favorite child, and Xancy led him to the middle of 
the tloor wliere they elicited general admiration in the gi'JK'e- 
hil waltz to an old tune which the liddlei- had amended by 
forgetting the last strain and im]»rovising one of his own 
creation. 

Xancy with her usual tact proposed to liei' father to go 
home and the old soldier and sailor, now lisherman, departed 



30 DANCE AT JOHNNY ]5EAVErV. 

with his hands free froiii the Wood of Johv Collins, contrary 
to liis threat made at the outset. 

Just at daylight the candles were snuffed out and a live- 
ly breakdown was danced as a finishing toucli to the night's 
enjoyment. As they departed, one after another in the dawn, 
Johnny shook hands heartily and wr.s heard to exclaim more 
than o]ice : 

"Ahm ver' mooch tanks for yous ! Cum on my beeg 
house down Montrahall nex' summer, we donee tree day, tree 
night and have mans to blow de horn and mek de big' fid' go 
' bum, bum, ' an Ahm make yous acquaint' de mayor, and de 
counsel, and de halderman, and all de reeches' mans in de 
worl'. Yaas, on jNIontrahall. Don' you forget. Ahm no 
peesoup, me ! " 

There be those living who swear by Heaven, after having 
been entertained l\v i)rinces and potentates, they never realized 
so much unsullied joy at a ball, though led by the Cjueen, as 
they did at Johnny Beaver's dance, " years ago. " 



W 



A Cannon Shotted With Gold Coin. 

At some perirxl (luriii^- tlii' Freiicli and I-Jiulish war a de- 
tachment of the former in bateaux projJeHed hy oar and sail, 
ran into La Famine, partly for shelter and i)urtly to lose itself 
from an unrelentinc; enemy. So closely were they pursued hy 
the l''.nolisli in Durham l)oats that ca[)ture seemed inevitable, 
and a flag of truce was run up. While negotiations were pend- 
ing the commander of the French fleet Ijethought liimself of 
the nunu'rous bags of gold coin stowed away in the flagship, 
and which would all too soon fall into the ])ossession of the 
victors unless secreted immediately. 

He counseled witli his ofHcers with the I'csult that a can- 
non was unlind)ered and the coin poure(l into its rai)acions 
month. After the precious charge had been rammed liome 
the mouth of the cannon was securely ]>hig^ed and it was tlien 
thrown overboai'(l. 

In the excitement of tlie moment no ranges were taken, 
and nothing but the (lej)th of tlie water was known tor a cer- 
tainty. Fight fathoms dee]), tradition hath it. and .'^omcwiiere 
between the Basswood tree and Scjuaw Island, somewliere be- 
tween the (lai) and Whitefish, and. it miuht be well said, 



32 A CAXXON SHOTTED WITH GOLD COIN. 

somcwliorc between earth and sky, so indetinite were the tra- 
ditional eonjectures. 

At any rate the elements intcu'fered in tlie Frenclnnan's 
behalf and afterloosing his anehors the Eno'lislnnan was l)l()wn 
beyond the possibility of victory just as terms had l)een nego- 
tiated. With the first shift of wind the French lleet sailed 
leacHno- their late adversaries l)y a full day with a fair wind. 

Long years after, a piratical ap])earing eraft cruised tlie 
landdoci^ed shores of La Famine for some weeks. Not one of 
the crew could speak English, but enough of their language 
was understood to convey the idea with certainty that they 
were searching for treasure. 

Immediately the tradition related al»ove was revived and 
many speculations were had concei'uing it. Jlaidc (ollius and 
Jim Lane — old Jim, thought, talked and dreamed of the old 
smooth l)ore and its precious charge. 

" 'Spose they drew the charge before ramming the coin 
down, '' queried Lane. 

'' Pro])ably they did and pr()bal>ly they didn't. They 
mount as well a hred her after she was loailed, considci'in' 
how scatterin' the article is nowadays, "' philoso])hicnlly an- 
swered Collins. 

Lane had tlie l)est head, and he had studied theprobalal- 
ities and the possibilities attendant upon these incidents, and 
finally persuaded Collins to go out upon the water and guess 
at the probable course a storm-driven tleet witb no knowledge 
of the waters they were sailing would naturally take in tlie 
search for anchorage and sheltei'. 

" Tlie wind mostly blows sou'west in these parts, and that 
is most likely the way it was blowiiT when the I'renchman 
was scuddin' for easier wc^ather, "' reasoned LiUie with liis 
l)artnei'. " Now obsarve the j'ange of tlie Basswood agin the 



A CANXOX SHOTTED WITH OOLD COIX. 33 

IMiit — swiiiii' her oil' a couple yei-ks — now keep the Pint ch'ar 
of the tree al)()nt tile width of ver hand — steady — and mind 
that tall tamarack ])luinl) ahead. Now we're dead in the wake 
of the fleet adrivin' — "" 

" Wdiich boat had the coin, " broke in ('(jlhns. 

"Dang it, enny on 'em, no matter whicli. -lust supposin' 
— your tree has slid into the Pint agin — opt'U out and gin yer 
attention to the ranges. Just sui)})osin' the hull licet was 
bowdin' along, wind blowin' a ga.uger, where now woidd any 
sane skipper |)int fur? Tell me that Hank' Collins. " 

" Well, if he ware natterally a sailor man lie'd hug the 
shore same's we're adoin', and wdien the soundin's showed fa- 
vorable I 'low he'd jam her nose well up toward the long bay 
aport. •' 

" Eggsakly ! " sliouted Lane with as much emphasis as 
though he had found the precise resting place of the Frencdi 
treasure. 

The wind was increasing and Lane shipped a })air of 
mismatt'd oars, and after wetting the thole pins, caught stroke 
and kei)t his eyes steadily on the Passwood tree and the 
" Pint. ■' 

The men labored at the oars in silence for some time, and 
as the wind was with them they did not much mind the in- 
ci'casing waves as they threw the heavy old seine boat right 
and left. Jt was not long before the men realized that they 
were in a gale, and one had to bail a share of the time tokeej) 
the boat manageabh'. 

" 1 say, Ilaidc, " suggested Lane, " lets make uj) into Long 
Pay and wait Ibr this s([uali to blow over. Pesides, we will 
sec about where the Frenchman dr(»pp((l his muddiooks in 
seventeen hundred and what-was-it? " 

"(iad, /ounds ! ^hm, but vou're long headed ! The very 



'^4 A CANNON SHOTTED WITH GOLD COIN. 

thing — left hand best — the very thing French y must have 
(lone — left hand — if he knew much about that kind of sailoi- 
ing — left hand — which was mostly like Scotch navigation — 
main strength and ignorance, Jim, main strength and ignoi- 
ancc. " 

'SSay, Mister Cohins, it strikes me there is a deal of main 
strength in this here navigation. 8ee ! ^^'e're driftin' out of 
the mouth of the bay and will do some tall pullin' if we don't 
make leeway that will blow us clean by tlie I'int to say no- 
think of getting up into the bay. " 

Collins made no reply. He pulled at the heavy oars 
with his eyes shut, and opened them when swinging Ijack for 
a new hold. The wind had been steadily drawing to west- 
ward, thus fairly disputing the right of way with the treasure 
hunters. The two men saw the point sli]) past them and real- 
ized that it was useless to attempt to get under the lee of the 
friendly shore not a half mile distant. 

Lane was a reasoner and so far liad led the " expedition " 
as he facetiously termed it. Collins was an imitator and not 
so thoughtful. An idea occurred to him and he called to 
Lane, pouring the words into his l)road back and far too lee- 
ward : 

''The Frenchman anchored, you say?" 
" So Fve been told. " 

" hi course — he had to. Let's heave old Lcn (a pet name 
for his anchor) over and see if he'll liold us, and if he does we 
can tak(> obsarvations, pick up the lost ranges ;ind mel)l)(^ lish 
up the old cannoii — ' fools for liiek, ' thev say. " 

"All right," lieartily resj)on(led Lane. " but hrst Ix-nd 
on that warping line. " 

" Sliow ! Ther's iifty fVet of line without it, and four 
fathom's all vou'll get here. " 





THE OARSMAN WAS HEADLESS 



A CANKON SHOTTED WITH (lor.D COIN. 



'•Better bend on the other, Hank, yon will want lot-; of 
la'ni}) to jump at in tliis sea, let me t(>ll y<ai. "" 

The ropes were nnitcMJ with a •■ iishcrman's Itcnd. "" and 
the anelior was poised on the .unnwale, tlukes pointing npwanl 
and (h)wnwar(h and after a second look to see that the ro)>e 
was all clear, it was dro})[)t'd over, the lioat lifting on hcinu- rc- 
licvr*! of the weight. 

"• There, "' said ("ollins. paying out the rope, 'T ealcuhite 
tlu't thar"s ahont the way them runaways did it — liottom fell 
onf.'' — when they ti'ied to dodge the I-aiglish — hottoiii — and 
h.st thoir " 

I)Oth men stared, eaeli at the other. 

The knot jnst aj)peared al)ovetlu' water and showed — 

" Eight fathom ! *' 

" IleiH-y. " said Lane solemidy. •• we're within a hundred 
feet of the cannon! Get ranges, (piick, we're dragging old 
Ben home It's providence. Hank, nothing short of j)rovi- 
dence, and I i)ronnse now I'm goin' to lea<l a better life. " 

'• !\re, too, Jim. I feel mighty trend. ly al»out this s])ot. 
Let's give it U}). No use anyway, a hundred feet oi' a hundi'e(l 
mihbs all the same tome and yon. ( 'ome I 

-Tell the truth and shanu' the devil. Hank. I don't feel 
that the water hereabout is just as solid and sure to float us as 
it might be. So gin us a hand and we'll get the lines in. Lut 
this much I'm willin' to chanst. We'll leave a bu.)y to niai'k 
the ranges and try it a couple of months latei' in earn weather. " 

(Tctting theanehor in. the men headed their boat toward 
La I'^amine and as they pulled away bef ire the wind each 
watched the speek of a buoy, which seemed, like the rainbow, 
to have a j.ot of goM at its end. Littk' was said between them 
e.xa-ept on landing to exact a pi'omise from each to make no 
revelations, though all tluy had to reveal was that an eight- 



o6 A CANNON SHOTTED WITH (iOLD COIN. 

fathom s()un(lin,u- had liwii made at a s])ot where they wouh.l 
stake everything they liad never found to exceed four. That 
night two fishermen dreamed of falnilous wealtli which, fast 
as recovered from a rusty old cannon, would Hy back to its 
former resting })laee. 

Early next morning the misty figures of two men could 
have been dimly seen in a heavy fog approaching each other 
on a well woi'n ])ath. Tliey were the treasure hunters of yes- 
tei'day, and were met by chance. ^Morning salutations were 
not in order in this New England descended, cold nei'ghbor- 
liood. That formality was a deference strictly reserved for 
sti'angers who hap})ened intheir midst. I'otli men looked a 
little surprised, however, and Collins broke the silence of the 
wood by askir.g : 

" Wher ye goin' ? " 

'' T' your house. Wlier you headin' for? " 

" T' see you, "" fraidvly answered Collins. 

" I dreamed — " They l)egan in one voice. 

" \\'ell, tell yours, '' suggested Lane. 

" 1 dreamed your l)lamed old cannon," he was getting 
interested, now, Init lie did not wish to show too much excite- 
ment over a dream, " I dreamed your blamed old cannon lay 
eight fathom deej) in a sinkdiole eight fathom across, and on 
the other side of the hole from our buoy, eight fathom " 

" My dream exactly !" interrupted Lane, who h:;d been 
]);ding as Collins progressed. 

•• \\\'ltetter n:)t wait 'till the summer cams come on, ha,d 
we Jimmy ? " 

" No, sir-re ! Lets Ijc of!^ now I The fogdl lift Ijcfore we 
can get over there, and besides, if it don't nout' will suspect 
wiiat we are dragging ibr, " and as Lane iirnshcd he cut a 
snudl fork from a plum tree and taking the extremities in 



A CAXXOX SHOTTED WITH (;()LD COIN'. 37 

either liand, the point of union u])Wanh he pi'oposed to take it 
alon.u' as he had loeated hundreds of wells hy dowsino-, hesidcs 
making- wonderful use of the same as a divininu' rod when 
prospeeting for buried treasure at Freneli Creek — a story that 
may be narrated sometime in " r.E(;Exi)ARV Stoihes of thi', 
TnorsAxn Islands." 

The two men stole silently down-shore t;) tlieir boat, and 
a moment later were lost in the dense fog oi* a e>)l(l spring's 
morning. An hour's laljor at the oars ijringing the'.n near the 
spot of yesterday's hnd, they began to penetrate the fog in 
seareh of the buoy. 

" I caught a glimpse of the Bassw(tod and 1 dunno but 
we're too fur to luard, " suggested Lane. 

'■ Lor' amighty ! Back her ! Baeker ! A slooj) to star- 
board !" roared Collins. Then Lane took eommand. 

" Pull ! liight hand, right — he'll run us down shor' as 
preaehin' ! The loonatiek's a follci'in' us vA every niove I 
Steady, now plant your oars ready to j)ull or push for life the 
minit he gets nigh to us. " 

The men sat rigid as statues, their oars pointing straight 
out from the boat, ready to back water or pull away as the 
exigencies of the approaching erisis might decree. The fog 
lifted a little and l)oth men dropjx'd tlieir oars in astonishment 
as the big. looming sloop suddenly collapsed into tlie buoy 
they had }»ut out with tlieii' own iiands to mark the ancdior- 

•■ What in natur I "' l)egan Collins, '• was that arc phantom 
s(»me o" your spookciy with the water witch of a ]ihim sprout. " 

" It's a good omen. Henry. 1 mind some such experience 
bcfoi-c. Now, say ! Isot a woi'd of talk after we get within 
eight iathom of tlu' Inioy. .Mind, now. So mu(di as a word 
would spoil all. Why, 1 helped dig up Captain Kidd's treas- 



38 A CANNON SHOTTED WITH GOLD COIN. 

lire chest on J'i.u's Foot Island, and stood witli one foot on the 
cliest and a hil)l)er said, ' Gimme the s])a<h'. ' That chest shot 
out tVom under me and I droi)})ed (h:)\vn three feet into a hole 
where it laid. ' (dmnie the spade, ' said he, and a million in 
<riAd coin went into tlie l)0\vels of the earth with a Hash and 
there ware a smell of hrimstone to choke ye. Now we'll take 
soundin's. " 

V^)uv fathoms I Five, six — eiglit ! yeven, five, four, and 
Fane motioned to Follins to fall away. More soundings were 
rapidly taken, and in a short time the hounds of the pot-hole 
were fairly located. Tliey discovered that it dropped off pre- 
ci[)itously four fathoms, was eight fathoms wide, as many in 
(lei)th, ;ind the lead showed hard bottom. They then set about 
a systematic dragging of anchor and grapnel in the hope, if 
possible, of getting foul of the French gnn and bringing it, 
charge and all, to the surface. Time and again they rowed 
over the charmed s})ot only to find their labor vain. 

( 'ollins pointed significantly to the plum sprout. Fane 
nervouslv grasjied it by the ends, held it out from his l)ody, 
jialuis upward, and gri[)[)ed the branches which converged in 
an uglv knot at a level with liis eyes. Pers[)iration tVU from 
his faee as the witch jiointed astern. 

Collins backed water. 

Down, down tui'ned the })lum sprout, wringing the bark 
as the boat moved slowly over the " hole." Tiien it turned U])- 
ward as they i)assed beyond its rim. The ex[)eriment was 
tried by approaehing the })oint of strongest attraction from 
dilfcreiit directions until it was well located. Then tlie an- 
chor and grapnel were again l)rouglit into service and the 
course dragged over and again. 

Collins' line lu'ought uj> solid and he ()])ened his li})S to 
speak, l)ut a waiaiing look from Fane reminded him of the 



A C'ANXOX SHOTTKI) WITH (;()LI) (OIX. 39 

consequence. Just tlicn Lane's line fouled on sonictliinii; 
e(|ually solid. The lines wore strained taut and the Itoat 
hi'ought to a position directly over the object. Apiin the plum 
sj)rout was tried, and they were not surprised Avhcn it turned 
straight downward and stopped at a perpen<liculai-. 

Collins drew breath as if about to sjicak, but Lane was 
watching him and cut oti' the words fatal to succ(>ss l)efore 
tliey were uttered. 

The treasure-seekers were by this time nearly l)esidc them- 
selves with excitement in which fear played not a small ]iaii. 
They hove the side of the boat down until the water almosl 
came in, and then by stopping over to the opposite side rocked 
it, the while taking in the slack of the ropes as they gave to 
the strain. After repeated efforts the object upon which tlie 
anchors had fouled yielded, and was brought slowly and la- 
boriously to the surface, its advance heralded by bubbles of 
gas. 

Covered with rust, mud and black oo/.e the Frenchman's 
gun lay at the surtace. The prize was at their lingers' ends. 
Tremblingly they pulled on the ropes whicli had fallen into 
notches already worn in the wale. So interested were they 
that they did not hear the a})proach of another boatman. 

Clank, clank ! 

Tlie clatter and squeak of a pair of heavy oars caught 
their attention, and they faced about as one man. 

A large boat, propelled by oars, was approaching, the sin- 
gle occupant pulling a long, steady stroke in time with tlie 
long, lazy swells that seemed at each rise ready to give up the 
eflbrt to go farther. Yet they ceased not, but ran ahead of 
the long sweep of the oars as if leasing the oecnpant to race. 

Clank, clank I 



40 A CAXXOX SHOTTKI) WITH GOLD COIN. 

Shade of ('haroii ! The blood of the fishermen stood still, 
and their amazement was unbounded. 

The oarsman was headless ! 

Straight toward the treasure he pointed Ids boat, sightless 
as he was, and his severed neek showing a gliastly wound as 
he bent to his oars. Steadily he forged ahead so close now 
that the ripple around the stem came to their ears. The boat 
was battered and scarred, built upon strange lines, and a hole 
liad been broken into her bow as though she had been raked 
by a six-pounder. Long weeds trailed in her wake which ap- 
peared as a stream of fire, and mosses flourished on her run- 
boards. 

All this and more the treasure-seekers saw in less time 
tlian is required to relate it. Nearer and plainer, now, sounded 
the chilling 

Clank, clank ! 

And the men were aroused by the instinct of self-preser- 
vation. Each seized an oar in one hand, with the otlier 
holding to the rope by Avhich the cannon was suspended. They 
were now thoroughly alarmed at this uncanny visitor who oc- 
casionally turned to right and left in his seat as if looking over 
his headless shoulders to take his bearings, or perhaj^s more 
p^roperly, dead reckonings. 

" Now I " shouted Lane. 

" Strike ! " echoed Collins. 

I''at;d words I Tlie charm was broken, for no sooner had 
llic men s])()ken as with one voice than 

l)()()m ! I)a-r-r-gii ! 

'I'hc caiinoii was iircd at tlie first vocal sound and bui'st 
iiiio a tliousand fi-agmcnls whiU^ its ])recious chai'gc was seat- 
tered ovei- the waste of waters towai'd the rising sun. Both 



A CANX()X SIIOTTKI) WJTH (iOLI) ((UN. 41 

mm ilrop])e(l in the lioat and for a niinutr iicitlii'i" could 
s[)L'ak. 

When they had sui1iei(Mitly recovered their senses to rise, 
the apparation had gone a])parently as swiftly as the ti'easure 
which they had just as good as secured. The rojx's hurned off 
the moment the discharge occurred and down went the anchors 
if indeed they were not blown to atoms. 

Silently, ruefully, sadly the hshermen s!iipped tlieir oars 
and pulled away for liome as stoutly as tlieir shattered nerves 
and disappointed hopes would permit. Each desired to put 
the blame of failure upon the other, and an argument as to 
who spoke first and tluis dis])elled the charm, ended in a sol- 
emn agreement never to reveal a word. But each told his 
wife, " she " told her sister, and so the community was soon 
reveling in the doul)tful story. Year after year the exact spot 
is shown the summer guest, and to the incredulous i)roofis 
forthcoming when with lead and line the outlines of the rim ' 
to the pot-hole are located by taking soundings, and then there 
is the Bass wood tree, the Point and the Bay to confirm the 
rest of the storv. 



The Legend of Calumet Island. 

There is abundance of evidenec wliicli goes to prove that 
liad tlie scene of events in Longfellow's immortal Hiawatha 
been located at the Thousand Islands, the Manatoana, or" Gar- 
den of the Great Spirit, " of the Iroquois and Algonquins, the 
})Oem would have been true to the legendary origin of Hiawa- 
tha. Read with that idea in mind, one will be surprised at 
the many striking passages Avhich apply to the St, Lawrence 
witli more force than to the Lake Superior region in whicdi 
the i)oet has de|»icted tlie principal events of the legend. 

In LS4o. ( )ssaliinta and Dehatkatons, two Onondaga 
chiefs related the legend of tlu' god of tisliing and rivers to Mr. 
Clark who carefully wrote out the story and filed it in the 
archives of the New York Historical Society. He thus trans- 
lates tlie narration of the two chiefs : 

Hundreds of 3-ears ago, Ta-oun-ya-watdia, the Deity who 
])resides over fisheries and streams, came down from his dwell- 
ing place in the clouds to visit the inhabitants of the earth. 
He had been deputed l)y the Great and Good Spirit, Ha-wa- 
ne-u, to visit the streams and clear the channels from all ol)- 
structions, to seek out the good things of the country through 
which he intended to pass, that they might be more generally 
disseminated among all the good people of the earth — espe- 



A li-x;i-:ni) of calumet island. 43 

cially to point out to tlu'in the most excrllcnt tisliino- tii'oiinds, 
and to bestow upon them other aceeptahle ji'ifts. Al)ont this 
time, two young men of the Onondaga Nation weiv listh^sly 
gazing over the ealm l)hu' waters of the Lake of a Tliousaiul 
Isles. During their reverie they espied, as they thought, far 
in the distance, a single white sj)eek, beautifully dancing over 
the bright l)lue waters, and while tliev watched the ()l)ject 
with the most intense anxiety, i^ seemed to increase in magni- 
tude, and moved as if a])i)roaching the j)hu'e where they were 
concealed, most anxiously awaiting the event of the visitation 
of so singular an object — for at this time no canoes had ever 
nnide their appearance in the direction from whence this was 
approaching. As the object neared the shore, it ])roved in 
semblance to be a venerable looking man, cahnly seated in a 
canoe of pure white, very curiously constructed, and much 
more ingeniously wrought than those in use among the tribes 
of the country. Like a cygnet upon tlu' wide bhu^ sea, so sat 
the canoe of To-oun-ya-watdia. upon the Lake of a Thousand 
isles. 

.\s a frail braneli drifts towai-ds the rushing cataract, so 
coursed the white canoe over the rii)pling waters, i)ropelled by 
the strong arm of the god of the river. Dee}) thought sat on 
the brow of the gray headed mariner; ])enetration marked his 
eye, and deep dark myster^' pervaded his countenance. With 
a single oar he silently paddled his light trimmed bark along 
the shore, as if seeking a commodious haven of rest. He soon 
turned tlie }>row of his tVagih' vessel into the estuary of ihe 
"double river, " and made fist to the western shore, lie ma- 
jestically ascended the steej) l)aid<, nor stopjx'd till he ha<l 
gained the loftiest sunnnit of tlie western hill. 'Idien silently 
ga/.ing around as if to examine the c(»unti'y. he became en- 
chanted with the view, and drawing his stately form to its 



44 



A LEdEND OF CALUMET ISLAND. 



Utmost height, he exehiimeii in accents of the wildest enthu- 
siasm, Osh-wah-kee, Osh-wah-kee. 

He approached the two young hunters, recounts Dr. 
Hough, gained their coniidence, and having drawn from them 
a knowledge of the difficulties under which they labored, dis- 
closed to them the spirituality of his character, and the object 
of his mission. He invited them to attend him in his passage 
up the river, and they witnessed many tilings which could 
only be accounted for as miracles, or be described but in the 
wonders of Indian mytholcgy. He ascended to the lesser 
lakes, placed all things in proper order for the comfort and 
sustenance of man, taught them how to cultivate corn and 
beans, which had not before been grown by them, made the 
fishing ground free, and opened to all the uninterrupted pur- 
suit of game. He distributed among mankind the fruits of 
the earth, and removed all obstructions from the navigable 
streams. Being pleased with his success, he assumed the 
character and habits of a man, and received the name Hi-a- 
wat-ha, (signifying " very wise man, " ) and fixed his residence 
on the beautiful shores of C'ross Lake. After a time, the coun- 
try became alarmed by a Imstilc invasion, wlien he called a 
council of all the tribes from (he (_-ast and the west, and in a 
long harangue urged upon them the imi)ortance of uniting 
themselves in a league for their common defense and mutual 
happiness. They deliberated upon liis advice, and the next 
day adopted and ratified the league of union which he recom- 
mended. Hi-a-wat-ha, having brought this council to a, 
close, and as the assembled tril)es were about to separate, on 
their return home, arose in a dignified manner, and thus' ad- 
dressed them : 

" Friends and Bi'others :— J hav(^ now fulfilled my mission 
upon earth; I have done everything which can be done at 



A LK(;i:xr) ok caumkt island. 4o 

])i-('st'nt for the a,()od of tliis i^rcat people. Atic iiitinnity and 
distress, sit heavily ii|)oii iiie. Duriiiu- my sojoui'ii aiiioni;- you 
1 liave removed all oltstrnetious from your streams. Canoes 
can now pass everywhere. 1 have given you good tishing 
waters and good hunting grounds, I have tanglit you how to 
eultivate corn and beans, and havt' learned you tlie art of 
nudving caldns. Many blessings 1 have li1)ei'ally l)estowed 
upon you. 

Lastly, 1 have now assisted you to foi-m an everlasting- 
league and covenant of strength and friendshi)), for your fu- 
ture safety and protection. If you j)resei've it without the 
admission of other people, you will always 1)e free, numerous 
and mighty. If other nations are admitted to your councils, 
they will sow jealousies among you, and you will become en- 
slaved, few and feeble. Remember these words: they are the 
last you will hear from tlie lii)S of ]Ii-a-watdia. Listen, my 
friends, the (Ireat-^NIaster-of-Lreatli calls me to go. I have 
patiently waited his summons. I am ready : I'^arewell. "' 

As the wise man closed his speech, there l)urst upon the 
ears of the assend)led multitude, the cheerful sounds of the 
most delightful singing voices. The whole sky seemed filled 
witli the sweetest melody of celestial music; and Heaven's 
high arch echoed and I'.'-echoed the touching strains, till the 
whole vast assembly was completely absorbed in rapturous 
ecstasy. Amidst the general coid'usion which now jn-evailed, 
and while all eyes were turne(l towards \\w etherial regions, 
ili-a-watdia was seen majt'stieally seated in his canoe, grace- 
fully rising higher and higher above their heads through the 
air, until he became entirely lost from the view of the assem- 
bled throng, Avho witnessed his wonderful ascent in mut(^ and 
admiring astonishment — while the fascinating music grad- 
ually became more plaiuliye and low, and liually sweetly ex- 



46 A LEGEND OF CALIMET ISLAXl). 

pired in the softe^^t tones upon their ears, as the wise man 
Hi-a-wat-ha, the god-like Ta-oun-ya-wat-ha, retired from their 
sight, as m3^steriously as he first appeared from The Lake of a 
Thousand Isles, and. cont'ludes Dr. Hough, quietly entered 
the regions inhabited only hy the favorites of the great and 
good s})i ri t II a- wa 1 1 -n e-u . 

That the reader may the better understand the legend of 
which these pages treat, a portion of Longfellow's " Song of 
Hiawatha " is here reproduced : 

TPIE PEACE PIPE. 

On the Mountains of the Praii'ic, 
On the great Ked ri])e-stone <^i:iiTy, 
Gitche Manito, tlie mighty. 
He the Master of Life, descending, 
On the red crags of the quarry, 
Stood erect, and called the nations, 
Called the tribes of men together. 

From his footprints* flowed a river. f 
Leaped into the light of morning. 
O'er the precipice plunging downward 
Gleamed like Ishhoodah, the comet. 
And the spirit, stooping earthward, 
With his finger on the meadow 
Traced a winding pathway for it. 
Saying to it, " Kun in this way ! " 

From the red stone of tlic quarry 
With his hand he bi'oki' a tVagmcnt. 
Moulded it into a pipediead. 
Shaped and fashioned it with ligures ; 
From the margin of the river 
Took a long reed for a, pipe-stem, 
* The Great Lakes. + The St. Lawrence. 



A LJ:(ii;XI) OF CAUMK-r ISLAND. 

Witli its (lark orceu leaves upon it ; 
l-'illed the pipe with bark of willow, 
With the bark of the red willow ; 
Breathed ui)Oii the Jieighboriiit;- forest, 
Made its threat boii^hs ehafe tou-ether, 
Till ill flame tliey burst and kindled ; 
And erect upon the mountains, 
Gitche Manito, the mighty, 
Smoked the Calumet, the Peace-Pipe, 
As a signal to the nations. 

And the smoke rose slowly, slowly. 
Through the tranquil air of morning, 
Fir.st a single line of darkness, 
Then a denser, bluer vapor. 
Then a snow-white cloud unfolding. 
Like the tree-tops of the forest. 
Ever rising, rising, rising, 
Till it touched the top of heaven, 
Till it broke against the heaven, 
And rolled outward all around it. 

From the Vale of Tawasentha, 
From the Valley of Wyoming, 
From the Groves of Tuscaloosa, 
From the far-off Rocky Mountains, 
From the Northern lakes and rivers 
All tlie tribes beheld the signal, 
Saw the distant smoke ascending. 
The Pukwana of the Peacc-Pipe. 

And the Prophets of the nations 
Said : " Behold it, the Pukwana ! 
By this signal from afar off. 
Bending like a wand of willow, 



48 A LEGEND OF CALT'MET ISLAXD. 

Waving like a liaiid that beckons, 
(iitche Afanito, the mighty, 
Calls the tribes of men together, 
Calls the warriors to his conncil ! " 

Down the rivers, o'er the prairies, 
Came the warriors ot the nations. 
Came the Delawares and Mohawks, 
Came the Choctaws and Camanches, 
Came the Shoshones and Blackfeet, 
Came the Pawnees and Oniahas, 
( 'ame the Mandans and Dacotahs, 
Came the Hurons and ()jil)ways, 
All the warriors drawn together 
By the signal of the I'eaee-Pipe, 
To the Mountains of the Prairie, 
To the great Ped Pi[)e-stone Quarry. 

And they stood there on the meadow, 
With their weapons and their war-gear. 
Painted like the leaves of Autumn, 
Painted like the sky of morning. 
Wildly glaring at each other ; 
In their faces stern dehance. 
In their hearts the feuds of ages, 
The hereditary hatred, 
The ancestral thirst of vengeance. 

Gitche Manito. the mighty. 
The creator of the nations. 
Looked u|)on them with com])assion, 
A\'ith ])ater]ial love and ])ity ; 
Looked u])on their wrath and wranglin. 
But as cpiarrels among children. 
But as feuds and lights of children ! 



A Lr<;(4END OF CALUMET ISLAXD. 



4!) 



Ovei- tlu'iii lie stivtt'lu'd his riolit liniid, 
To sulxluc their stuhhorn natures, 
Toalhiy their thii'st and fever. 
l)y tlie sha(h)\v ofliis riolit hand ; 
Spake to theni with voice niajestic 
As the sound of iar-off waters, 
Fallino- into deep al)ysses, 
Warnino-, eliiding-, s])ake in this wise: — 

" () my ehildi-en ! my ])oor ehildreii I 
l.isteu to the woi'ds of wisdom. 
Listen to the words of warninii-. 
From the Hps of the Great Spirit, 
From the ^faster of Life, wlio made you : 

" I liave given you lands to luuit in. 
I have given you streams to Hsh in, 
I have given you bear and ])ison, 
1 have given you roe and rein(h>er. 
I have given you hrant and heaxcr. 
Filled the marshes full of wild-fowl, 
Filled the rivers i\\\\ of fishes ; 
Why then are you not contented? 
Why tlK'U will you hunt each other '.^ 

" 1 am weary of your (piari'ds. 
Weai-y of your wars ;nid Wloodshed. 
Weary of your pi'ayei's for vengeance, 
Of your wranglings and disst'iisions ; 
All your strength is in your union, 
All your dangt'r is in discoi'<l ; 
Therefore he at peace heneeforwanl. 
And as hi-olhers li\c together. 

" I will send a prophet to you. 
A Deliverer of the nations, 



A LE(;EXD of ('ALUMET JSLANl). 

W\u) shall guide you and shall teacdi you, 

Who shall toil and suffer with you. 

If you listen to his counsels, 

You will multiply and prosper ; 

]f his warnings pass unheeded, 

You will fade away and i)erish I 

" I)athe now in the stream before you, 
A\'asli tlie war-paint from your faces, 
Wash the blood-stains from your fingers, 
Bury your war-clubs and your weapons, ' 
Break the red stone from this quarr}'. 
Mould and make it into Peace-Pipes, 
Take the reeds that grow beside you. 
Deck them with your brightest feathers, 
Smoke the calumet together, 
And as brothers live henceforward ! " 

Then upon the ground the warriors 
Threw their cloaks and shirts of deerskin, 
Threw their weapons and their war-gear, 
Leaped into the rushing river, 
AVashed the war-paint from their faces. 
Clear above them flowed the water, 
Clear and limpid from the footi)rints 
Of the Master of Life descending ; 
Dark below them flowed the water. 
Soiled and stained with streaks of crimson. 
As if blood were mingled with it ! 

From the river came the warriors. 
Clean and washed from all their war-paint 
On the ])anks thrir clubs they buried, 
Buried all their warlike wea])ons. 
Gitche Manito, the mighty, 



A LK(;ENI) Ol' (AI.r.MKT ISLAND. .') 1 

The (xreat Spirit, the creatoi", 
Smiled upon his helpless children I 

And in silence all the warriors 
Broke the red stone of the quari'v, 
Smoothed and formed it into Peacc-Pijx's. 
Broke the lon^- reeds l)y the rivei'. 
Decked them with their hriuhtesl leathers, 
And departed each one homeward, 
While the Master of Life, ascending, 
Through the opening of cloud-curtains, 
Through the doorways of the heaven, 
^''anished from before their faces. 
In the smoke that rolled around him. 
The Pukwana of the Peace-Pipe. 
The Indian name for French creek, in the village of 
Clayton, was Weteringhra-Guentere, the " Fallen Fort, " or 
perhaps more literally, "the place where the hills fell down. " 
An ancient and rude fortification at the mouth <»f French 
("reek was the traditional l)Oundary line between the Iroquois 
and Algonquin nations whom the first white navigator of the 
St. Lawrence found engaged in a war which Ix^gan l)efore 
time was fixed even by uncertain tradition. 

The war was said to have originated with a hunting par- 
ty composed of a half dozen young men of each nation. One 
party followed an elk many leagues and returned witbout 
game whatsoever. The other party then set out and meeting 
with immediate success the lately van(|uish(Ml party was com- 
pelled to do squaw work — skinning, dressing and cooking. 
The jealousy of the latter was now aggravated by humiliation, 
and a feud was engendered wliich tlieir few living descendants 
secretly cherish to this day. 

This feud was precipitated long after the advent of Ilia- 



o2 A LEGEND OF CALUMET ISLAN'D. 

WEitlm, the river ,uo(l, and in violation of liis admonitions. Af- 
tci' tliis murderous war had been carried on many years the 
land was taken from the INIississaguas by the (xreat Spirit who 
was more than ever displeased with his eliosen whom he liad 
placed in the Manatoana, this (Jarden of Eden, only to have 
the compact of })eace rudely violated. 

An island in the St. Lawrence, opposite Clayton, presents 
in the contour of its shores, and general topography, a won- 
derful resemblance to an Indian pipe, and for this reason long- 
ago it was called Calumet. This island it is claimed is no 
other than the Calumet, the gigantic Peace-Pipe, smoked by 
(dtche Manito, the mighty, "as a signal to the nations, " the 
ascending smoke from which attracted the attention of the 
Proj)fiets of the nations n})on Avhose interpretation the tribes 
of men were immediately called together at Manatoana, the 
Carden of the (Jreat Spirit, the Mille lies of the French yoy- 
ageurs, tlie Thousand Islands of today. 

(litche Manito sent messengers to bear away the country 
of the Mississaguas and they came with a great skin blanket 
which was let down by the f )ur corners. Into this blanket 
.Manatoana. the (iarden of the Great Spirit, with its rivers, 
lakes and mountains, was carefully placed, the great Calumet 
in the center. The l)lanket with its l»urden was borne away 
sk\-ward, but as the wondeiing Mississaguas gazed u})ward 
they were territied at discovering that the messengei's had 
broken their liobh The gai'den and the gi'eat blanket came 
tumbling down and was 1»roken iido a tliousand fragments — 
and thns oi-iginalrd th<' Thousand Islands, 'i'he Calumet was 
faii'ly ))ulveri/.(Ml, a token tliat the covenant Itetween the Great 
Spirit and the nations was no more. The Mississaguas were 
no longer the chosen peoph' 'I'hev had liroken the }>ledge to 
keel) ix-acc anioim- themselves and (utche Manito had made 



A LKdKNT) OP ('AL^^rKT ISLAND. Oo 

his ano'er niaiiitV'st l>y tlic sii^niticaiit l)rcakiii,u- of the ('aliiiiict. 
the |)i[)e of }H'ace. 

Hence, ^\'eterill^h^a-( iuciitere. "the plaec whci'e the hills 
fell <lowii. " 



Daniel nillikin, American. 

Your graiidiather and I settled in this neighborhood in 
180H, making the h:)ng journey from Connecticut witli one 
horse and a pair of oxen, camping by the way wherever night 
overtook us. We were married but a few days before setting 
out, and you may be sure it was not a hixurious wedchng 
journey, but stout hearts and bright hopes kept us good com- 
l)any. 

Our new liome overlooked Lake Ontario, wliicli seemed 
to me l)road as the ocean, for no trace of the farther sliore 
could be seen. Full five years we worked from daylight to 
dark, and then had really less than we brought with us. Your 
father, no, grandfather, was a tanner and currier and had 
often talked of returning to his trade, but lie could not read- 
ily get such employment vwn in this new country. Ojie day 
lie came from La Famine, and turning the horse loose at 
the (h)or, came in and sat by the fireplace in silence a long 
time. My heart sank M'lien he did speak. A\\» were to leave 
our home and my parents, who had followed us, and go to 
Canada, where he had contracted to work as foreman in a 



DAXIKL MILI.Ik-IX, AMERICAN'. OO 

tannery, and was to receive eight dollars in gold oxwy wcck 
f<>r his services. It was a bold stroke whicli to oui- niiiids 
foretold great wealth, and yet we were rehictaiit to lea\e our 
littU^ clearing and go among a sti'ange jii'Oj)h'in a i'orcign land. 
Besides, the thought of hving \\ithin the king's doinain> was 
not jileasant. 

Humors of trouble l)etween the young rciiublic anddrcat 
Britain had reached us from time to time, l)ut the single news- 
])aper that came fortnightly said England dare not hght again, 
besides should there be war, Canada Nvould side with us and 
it, too, become free. At length our fears were put asi(h' and 
we left by saib there were no steamers then, and two days 
later landed far u]) the Canadian shore at a little village con- 
taining a church, a few log houses and the tannery store. 

For a while we saved money, but with the ugly war news 
the times grew harder and harder until we were compelled to 
take store pay entirely. Wdien war was actually di'clart'd your 
grandfather, and the four Americans he had brought with 
him, decided to return home since in the heat of argument 
tliey had already gotten into trouble with the tannery hands. 
They were good workmen and had ol)tained such favor with 
the contractors that, to induce tlu'Ui to stay, the pay in gold 
was resumed and they were assured that should they remain 
they would be exempt from military duty. TluMi eamethe 
re])ort that the British had burned IJoston. That decided our 
l)eople that they must go l)aek and defend their homes, but 
they tarried a few days in the ho])e that it was a fah;e reiioit 
made to encourage loyalty in the ('anadas. 

One morning we heai'd the booming of cannon at \n\k, 
now Toronto, and our men made no cllort to conceal theirjoy 
at (ieneral Pike's bold atta(d< and suliseijuent capture of the 
citv. .\11 Canada was in hiuli dudgeon, and our little colony 



56 DANIEL MILLIKIX, AMKHICAN. 

suffered its share of abuse, and we were given to understand 
that we must repress our feehngs or suffer the consequences. 
Although the season was advancing and lake navigation dan- 
gerous, the Americans hegan at once the secret construction of 
a large bateau in which we were all to return. Every man in 
the village was ordered to arm and report at the church whence 
they were to march to the recapture of York You may be 
sure haste was made in the construction of the boat, the build- 
ers paying no heed to the warning to eiiuij) for war. It was 
completed two days after the militia had departed, -and our 
hopes ran high while loading it with stores for the return to 
home, friends and country. 

AMule thus engaged six mounted redcoats appeared upon 
the rise above us and demanded a surrender. Our men were 
armed and had agreed to fight if the officers came to press 
them into the service, but your grandfather was the only one 
to stand his ground and fire. His shot was returned with a 
volley, and he fell with a Indict in his arm. Springing to his 
feet be began to reload, and as the soldiers were preparing to 
fire another volley I ran in front of him and dannl them to 
shoot a woman. Blood trickled from his hand, and as I tried 
to bandage his wound the brutal soldiers closed about us and 
your grandfather Avas bound to a saddle before I could dress 
his arm whicli hung limp at his side. They started away and 
I attem[)ted to follow, but the soldiers threatened to shoot me 
also if J made further ado. My husband bade me return to 
1lic house and mind the children, and as they galloped away 
I saw a pistol held to his head for shouting to me that he 
would be back that very night. 

I watcluMl them out of sight, and then with a breaking; 
heart entered the cabin. There I found Kuth Sophronia and 
Thankful Amanda armed with table kniycs in emulatiotj of 



DANIKI, MII.I.IKIN, A M K K KaN". 0< 

the Spirit of Anu'rica. while little Asa Kheiie/.cr was jxmriii^- 
])()W(ler from the horn into his milk. 

Tlie vision of theii' poor woniuled father, home away to 
an unknown fate was hefore me day and ni^ht, and 1 nearly 
worried myself into insanity. Week aftei- week wore away 
and yet no word eame to relii've my distress or conlirm my 
fears. Frequent stories of huteheries liy Indians employed in 
the British service kept me in constant alarm lest such a fate 
overtake me and my helpless children. Often I took them 
into the woods when Indians were in the nei^hhorhood, and 
came back only when compelled by cold and hunger. There 
were few neighbors left, and tli:::e I dare lu.t trust tbi- there 
were among them those whom I believed had informed the 
officers of our intended departure. As the winter eame on a 
sense of my utter loneliness bore me down, and to return to 
my parents became the whole subject of my thought. it 
would soon be a physical necessity since tlie provisions were 
low and the money reduced to a single gold coin. In the feai" 
of being massacred the few ]>eo])le in the village were ]ire- 
l)aring to leave, and at this 1 was determined to face any dan- 
ger than remain entirely alone. 

To recross the lake at this season was next to imi)ossible. 
even for experienced sailors. I knew the St. Lawrence river 
must be frozen over at Kingston winch was slron^iy gai'ri- 
soned l)y the British. A wounded soldier brought me word 
that your grandfather had been taken to that post tbr ti'ial. 
and that settled a ])urpose to return that way in the hope of 
seeing my husband, if but for a moment. .\ farmer was en- 
gaged to carry us to Kingston, and aftei' nearly a week's trav- 
el in d(>ejt snow wo reaclie<l the barracks. The laiMuer made 
iiKjuiry for my husband and was told that he had been taken 
to Montreal and siiot for treason. 



58 



DANIEL MILLiKIX. A>rERICAK. 



I did not faint — women did not have the liabit then — ■ 
neither was I greatly sur])rised, for 1 had already learned 
sometiiing of the severity of martial law. '{'here was no time 
to shed hittci' teai's over our utterly forlorn condition, and to 
make the situation e()mj)letely dismal, the river at this point, 
where I iiad hoped to cross, was a sea of floating ice. Home 
seemed as far aw;iy as at the outset. 

We were kindly cared for at a log tavern by the landlady, 
herself American l)orn, until the lirst fair day, when I reso- 
hitely set out with my three children to hud a crossing farther 
down the River. It was said there was firm ice from shore to 
si lore at Brockville, fifty miles distant, but the task did not 
a])pall me for the hoj)c of getting my children to their grand- 
])arents gave me courage. Bravely, then, we traveled a coun- 
try filled with hostile Indians and soldiers, to my mind one 
fully as wicked as the other, remaining over night with the 
settlers exce|)t once when the distance between neighbors was 
too far to l)e covered in a day. We passed that night by 
the remains of a fire not thi-ee hours deserted, and ate a little 
(h'ied venison which a farmer's wife had })ut in the hand of 
one of the children as we left. One morning a great hullaba- 
loo was raised about the house of some kind })eoi>lc» who cai'ed 
for us by making a bed on tlie floor in front of the fireplace. 
A loud ra]) at the door, then a gruff' voice shouted : 

" Open and surrendfr or we will fire the houst' I " 

In alarm the door was thi-own o])en and twenty dragoons 
were discovered about the little hut. An officer looked about 
the liouse sharply and said inrorundion liad reached him that 
a female spy was harbore(l within and must go with him to 
the barracks, as well as the farmer whose loyalty he said they 
now had reason to suspect. I ])resented myself and children 
and told the story of my travels. Ou)' pitiful condition mu.^t 







" fclX MOITNTED REDCOATS APPEABED. " 



^ 



MI 1.1,1k' IN. AM]:i;ic.\.\". 



Iiiix'c sliaiiR'd liiiii, \\>r after (•(•iisnltiiiu- witli aiiotlin- dUicci- 
and asking iiic a ,urcat many (|Ucsti()ns. he threw a sihci' piece 
into the donv and they nxlc awaw 

The (h'ar Lord only knows what we sullered the next da\", 
I'aeinu- a stinuin^ noi'the]' whicdi eanie up alter the rain of the 
niuht l)efore. On. on. I went, earrvinii' first one child and 
then the other, and sometimes two. An »Kcasional glim])se of 
the Ameriean shore had kept u[i my eourau'e all aloiio- the 
weary miles, hut fields of moving- ice pre\-eiited my erossinu'. 
Home almost in sight, yet far. far a\\"ay, and I was so weary. 
The ti'ial was telline- upon the (diildreii too. and 1 prayed that 
they might he given strength from ahove until we ei'ossed the 
lines and came among my own countrymen. 

1 cut the village of IJroekville short, fearing another or- 
deal of heing nnstakeii i'nv a si)y. Another hour's travel 
hrought us to a point where the \vv seemed firm all the way 
across to Ah)rristown. where were statione(l American troops. 

As we struck out on the ic(^ the children were knee deep 
in the water, and about us were whirlpools eaused hy the wa- 
ter di'awing down through airholes in the ice. I shuddere(l 
at these dark vortexes, in size sufficient to swallow us at a 
gulp, and it was only hy winding and turning that we av()ide(l 
these new dangers. W'ouM either of my three hahes survive 
su(di unnatural exposure ? Would tlu' frail hiidge support 
us'.^ We would face still greater dangers I'ather than turn 
hack. The watei- tVo/.e to oui' skirts, the weary little feet 
dragged heavily at my side, and 1 I'elt the hi»ld on my dress 
W(^akening as the fro.st-bitten lingers hi'canie uumh. and — 
heavens, was my hahy l)oy freezing in my arms I stroNc 
hlindly on willing to die if I could hut get my pei'ishing ehih 
dren to friends. 

A l(»ud shout startled mv heart into feverish action at the 



(30 



DANIEL MILLIKIX, AMEKlcAN'. 



thou^-lit of help, only to all but stop at the fear of another en- 
counter witli the redcoats. But the Loi'd is <;oo(l. I recooiiizcd 
the uiuforin of the American militia, aud the next moment 
strono- arms ])ore us all across the treacherous channel to firmer 
ice wliere the dragoons were wrdtiuii,' to make a speedy iiiii,h.t 
with us to the barracks at Morristowu. The children, scarce- 
1\- able to s])eak. were rolled in blankets by the sure-eon's wife 
who dared not bring them to the fire, and in a few (hiys 
recovei'ed their wonted activity. When my story was told I 
heard many tlu'cats among the rough troopers, one a'ctually 
j)roj)osing to t-ross and burn iU'ockville that veiy night. 

After remaining a few days we were sutficiently recovered 
to resume our journey, but we did no more walking. Oui- 
new IVicnds ])rovided a way for us nearly half the distanc-e. 
and the I'cmainder we covered l)y short rides witli neighbors. 
It was with a heavy heart that 1 approached the scene of our 
first housekeeping, besides the time had now come when my 
cliildrcn must learn the truth of their fitlier's aljsencc .My 
pai'cnts were overjoyed at our return and received u^: as 
from the dead. I l)oughteig]d yardsof black calicoand ma(h' 
it into a di-css for Sundays. Tbc winter passed slowly enough 
and when the birds came with s])ring I was more tluu) ever 
disheartened as each note seemed to recall tlie happy {)lans 
we had made for converting our foi'est home into a bloonnng 
iield. 

One Sunday I had a call from Xeighl)or Rasl)ach. whose 
pool', weak wife had died of tlie lever 

'• \\\']\. you needn't "a tbought 1 was dead, "' l>roke in 
grandfather a little snap])isbly, and to our siu'prise lie told 
the remainder of the story himself in these words : 

Wdien tlie dragoons captured ine I was in great [)ain fi'(-m 
mv wound, but the officers maile no oiler to l)anda.<4-e m\-ai'm, 



bAXlKL MILLIRI.V, A^r^:RI('A^•. 



CA 



not even nftcr rcacliiiiu- York. In tlic oni-rison tlic only at- 
tention I had was t(» be cliainctl ti) a post like a skive, and 
luivc a cold meal hronoht one(> a day. I'^or a week iliis iienlcet 
eontinned, and then twenty of ns were fastened in the hold of 
a schooner and taken to Kingston. 

After a few days' niiseral»le treatment there we were 
started for Montreal in l»ati>anx. the olficer compeliinu- nie to 
kibor at the oars althonoh all Imt dead with pain from my 
wonnds. At the rapids so closely did we pass to the i.'^lands 
that at times the branches of trees hrnsluMl tlie boat as we 
])assed. bnt escape was impossible in my disabled condition, 
altlioniih I was sorely tempted to jump over and swim, trust- 
ing that their slow tlintdocks would give me time to reach the 
shore. At ^lontreal we were penned in a gnard honse and 
not only suffered neglect but were toi'tnred with false rej»orts 
of British success. A formal charge of ti'eason was read to 
me, and what I snppose was the death ])enalty was delivered in 
i'^rench. I was still in total darkness as to my fate. 

One afternoon the American ])ris(>ners were roughly or- 
dered out of the log })risi)n. and nndera sti'ong guard marcdied 
ont of the garrison as we verily believe(l to oui' death. I'or 
two days we were mar(died westward in ignorance of oui" des- 
tination, or the pnrpose in removing us. 'I'heii fi'om a hill we 
saw a (lag of truce ami soldiers in the American uniform, 
'riiere we were told they had brought us out to hght our coun- 
ti'ymen. but before we wei-e arme(l oui' enemies sui'i'cudeicil 
and we were fi'ee. 

After the lirst e.xcitenu'ut was over I determined to go to 
my fannly. if indeed they had not met the fate of a hundi-ed 
deaths which I fancied they had met at the hands of the 
Indians, or from starvation, exposnie or wolves. IJack we 



02 DAXIKL -MILLIKIX, AMKltlCAX. 

niaivlu'd as ra})i(ny as j)()ssil»k' to Furt TieoiKU'roya. whence I, 
not being in the reguhir service, was })erniitte(l to depart. 

I chose the ('ana(han thoronolitare and traveled mostly 
at m'oht tearin.u- to meet the iJritish soldiery. I crossed the 
St. Lawrence to Morristown for the pur})Ose of ,u"oing to my 
old home and crossing the lake in search of wife and children. 
At the barracks the account of my capture recalle<l tlie rescue 
of tlie mother and childR'n from their ])erilous tri]) across the 
ice, and I knew from that moment they were safe. I came 
away at once and. a week later found your grandmother in 
widow's weeds planting some hollyhocks in the yard. 

"Let me help you. mother, " I said. She just turned 
around, fell into my arms, and — had a good cry. IL-r })arents 
gave me a wonderful wt'lcome and got u}) a great dinner in 
honor of my return, hut s(»mehow no one had much of an 
api.etite. 

The comj)anions who fled at my capture j()ine(l (ieneral 
Pike's forces and with them retreateil when York was letaken, 
and afterward engaged in the l)attle at Sackets Har])or, and. 
Eben, if ever 1 hear you say another word about joining Can- 
ada to the states, vou will not get the bav colt. Kememl)er ! 



Wind and Weather Permitting. 



'Pile J.a Famine tislicnneu arrano-ed a boat race that \> 
Well ivnu'iiil)('i'0(l l»y i\\v older settlers, leastwise those who saw 
it with the feverish imauiiiation of voiith. I-'ar aii<l wide llu 
event was heralded on (juai'tei'-sheet postei-s in this styh' ; 

(;haxi) in:(iA'n\v. 




spring 



A <;rand Saihii^ lu uatla wdl he 

holden at La Fannne. wind and 

weather jiennittinu-. on 

I-'kidav, .III. v. dm, IS — 

( )])en to all Amerii-an hshinu' hoats 

nndei- -J I feel keel, 

(The ••Sophia"" harre(l.) 

OwiumI on this end of the Lake. 

Purse, $.")(). (10. cVe. 

lishinu'. attende<l l.y uood liK'k, was (»ver. <o those 



(54 WIND AND WKATIIKK rKKMITTINC. 

HOW restin,*;- from their lci])ors made general pre})arati(>iis for 
the race. July Fourth there were 22 entries of fishing craft, 
many of them fitted with suspiciously new sails, others with a 
" cloth " recently added to the leech, and at least two with ill- 
titting borrowed sails of larger dimensions than the ordinary 
business rig. Off the shore came a smart breeze which had 
freshened not a little when the contestants anchored in line 
across a narrow reach from the lake, jibs furled, Ixxmis aswing, 
mainsail filling and backing at the caprice of the wind, and 
picked crews all alert. On the shore a crowd is waiting for a 
signal for the start, the while somewliat jealously discussing 
the rig of a yacht with flying jib and a string of flags, manned 
by a crew of boys in duck pants, and steered with a wheel. 

Bang ! A pistol shot from fhe hands of the referee, a jus- 
tice of the peace so everlastingly dignified as to compel his 
own boys and girls to call him " 'Squire. " 

Bang I Twenty-two jibs shoot up the forestay, twenty-two 
cables are slipped, twenty-two tillers hard up, twenty-two prows 
fall away, and twenty-two fishing boats, clean as a cabined 
steam yacht, cleave the Ijlue waters and churn u[) a wave of 
foam in a grand charge for the lee shore not thirty rods dis- 
tant. 

Hard alee ! 

The sailing master of the boat having the favored position 
comes into the wind and then with his starl)oard tacks aboard 
claims the right of way, compelling the first comer to go in 
stays so (piickly tliat the gravel ba-;s fall overboard, others to 
wiire and some t(- gybe. He takes the bows])rit from one too 
venturesome, and runs his horn through the leecli of another 
who had gone about in the vain lio])e of laying to windward 
of the fleet. Another boat with bi'oken rudder is run out high 
and dry on the Inwch ; anotlujr is turned completely over, the 



WIND ANi> \\i:.\ Til i:i; I'liUMri'iiNc. i).) 

crew j)erchinu- along- the ktcl unheeded liy tlie more lortunate 
" defenders. "" 

While the hoats are dod^ino- each (.ther in a confusion of 
ilajij»inu sails, loud ordeis, and cheei's from ihe sliore, a l»i,u' 
fellow is setting a gaff-to})sail, ''just fer to put on style, '" as 
l>one Mareeau expressed it. But pride goeth l)efore a fall, Mr. 
Big One, and ere the extra sail is fairly set the halyards foul 
and the sail flaps away witli tack adrift and clewline s]»iiniing 
out until it reaches a kink, uhen the topsail smldenly tills. Ixd- 
lies a^^■ay to leeward, and the boat within an inch of cajtsi/.- 
ing, ships so much water as to make her all but nnmanageahle, 
and she is withdrawn from the race. Seventeen hoats over- 
strained with a crowd of canvas thrash the narrow waters into 
a choppy sea. The Bluebird breaks her mast off close to the 
jaws, and is towed into a iViendly cove. 

Interest in the contest narrows down to the thnv or tbui' 
in the lead. Nancy Mareeau has already observed in the con- 
fusion of sails what others have not. She has seen the l"'ancy, 
with the F changed l)y some miscreant with a little coal tar 
into an apology for an X, stand straight through the reach 
without once tacking. 

" Is Job sailing the Nancy-er-l'\uicy ? '" asked young Bane, 
looking at Nancy as though she ought to know. 

'' Dunno, " she curtly n>plied with tlushing clu'ek and a 
look that gave the lie to the woi'ds. '> B's none of my busi. 
]iess and less of yours. Jim Bane. " 

••JJial might he an<l Iheii agin it mighln'l, " and .lim 
made a telescope of his hands to cut otf the subject. 

( )ut of the reach into the bi'oad bav sped the boal-^ ur-ed 
by a stitfening breeze, tlieii- wimbvard runboard- lin.d with 
i)ags of gravel which (piickly shifted tor tin- other tack, kt'cps 
them right side up and in sailing ti'im. 'Uu' Fancy rounds 



()') WIND AND WKATHEIl l'ER.\nTtIN(i. 

the onU'T inni-k followed by the Saucy Jane and ( 'la/.y Jack 
close upon liei'. No sooner is eat-li l)oat fairly around the liuoy 
and before the wind on tiie return than a l)i,ii- bigsail is run up 
the mast, a boom shot out and as the sails lill the boats faii'ly 
fl\' over the course, each carrying a bone in hei' teeth wliich is 
plaiidy discerned by tlu' ])artici|)ants, in spii'it, at least, on the 
shore. 

"Jol) is ragti'ino- it to Iier foi- first })rize, sure, " remarked 
a young neighbor lad wlio had made one trip on the ujjper 
lakes and returned with a lot of knowledge, and a l)luejlannel 
shirt ornamented with crossed anehoi's in white braid. 

" Me can't steer a raft across the canawl and fetch the 
furder side, "' sueeringly remarkecl old Marceau. 

" He'll rag the stick outen her if he don't take in his 
washing afore ten ndnutes, " he continued, and even as he 
s])oke the s])ectators discovei'ed the whitecaps chasing each 
other in the wake of the Hying racers. The Ci'azy Jack was 
farthest astern and caught the scjuall almost unawares. She 
lilted and plunged, then an onunous cr;icking forward ])i'oved 
ti-oul»le from an uidooked-foi' source. The forefoot twisted out 
of the step and th(> mast already bending forward pit(died into 
the boiling waters under her bows, tearing out the deck and 
snapping backstays like threads. The hardy ci'ew, wet to the 
skin. \-ei'y (piickly cleared up the wreck and with theJiMxioiii 
lashed to the spliuteivd deck and a bit of sail l)agging froi]i it, 
they scudded past the innei' buoy, and l)y (hut of \igorous 
hailing succeede(l in making a lauding without further dam- 
age. Of the licet which started in the race one after another 
had dropjx'd out until only the I''ancy and the Saucy .lane re- 
mained. .\fter the disaster to the ( 'razy -lack, which was high, 
ly aj>preciate(| by the crowd on shore, the two remaiinng a]- 
|iroache(| the inner huo\- which fliev were to luiai au'l then 



\VIXI) AND WlOATllKi; I'Kli M ITTI X( ;. (iT 

iio-ain covor tlic CDursc. Tlic l'';niey cniiic on niid just when 
aUivast tlu' iiiai'k Inrlcd her Iw^ sail and as tlic slu'cl was 
hauled in by a I'un foi'ward she swuni;- ai'ound to the wiud 
and Iu'C'KmI (ivcr until her keel showed clear of the waves, 
and she seemed drifting- to windwai-<l tV.)in the iu;)!uentu;u ae- 
erue(l in eii-elinu- the mark. 

Ci-aek I 

The onlookers are treated to another long-hoped-for bit of 
excitement. The Fancy's topmast had broken off at thetruek 
and her peak was dangling in the lifts. A ligure is going 
aloft, hand over hand, on the windwai'd stays. 'fhe wind 
sti'eiigthens and the figure shrinks closer to the stumj) of the 

'• Hard luck : Tm sorry, " said -lim l.aiie, and he caught 
Nancy Marceau watching the iigui'e with an intensity that al- 
most betraye(l her recognition of the nimble sailor. 

- Jim, do you think he will falT.^ ■" spoke Nancy boldly 
and yet almost tearfully. 

■■ It's none ()' m\' business, nuich less yourn. " mockingly 
replied the ungallant Jim. -smiling at his own clevei'ness. 

Old .Ahircean wat(died the repairs with a sailor's admira- 
tion for a display of skill in clo-e (piarlers. but his sl:ade(| 
eyes failed to recogid/,' young Collins els/ hi' would not have 
eomplimeid(Ml the good seamanship w hi( h (pii(J<Iy resulted in 
se(airing a block to the stump of the mast, and altei' reeving 
a halyai'd into it the peak was set up. a single reef having been 
|iut in the mainsail and jib in the meaidime. Then the I'^an- 
r\\ far in the rear, began the battle atVesh ami<l the clieers ol' 
lli( sailoi-s and Ji^heianeii who had gatheivd down the shore 
the better to set' the contest Ibr the supremacv ol' the fishing 
lleet. 

" Now," said Joby as he resumed a |»osition on the (piar- 



68 WIND AND WKATIIKi; I'KKMITTIXC;. 

t('i- and .steadied the tiller 1)V the round turn of a rope l)elayed 
to windward, " we shall overhaul the Sauey if that stick 
holds. " 

" Yes, " said the man tending jib sheet, " she is carrying 
too much sail now. See lier heel down and luff. I tell you 
these seas deaden tlie headway and throw her too niucli to lee- 
ward when her lutf is sla]»])ing like that. " 

Tacking to the outer mark was not making ra])id head- 
Avay. and the gain counted upon for the Fancy's getting down 
to steady work was not so much as her gallant crew had hoped. 
A plank was run out to windward and a man, Johnny Bea- 
ver, clambered out toward the end as the boat careened, and 
quickly slid down again as she straightened up. It was truly 
a comical sight, this man dangling in mid-air at an elevation 
of nearly forty-five degrees as the boat yielded to a puff and 
lay down. Successively rising and falling he more than once 
took a ducking from a big comber that reached up and hit 
him all over when lie was a trifle slow about sliding l)ack, 
laughingly remarking : " Never tooch me. " 

The Saucy Jane a mile to win.dward was nearing the 
mark, every joint squeaking with the strain of canvas. She was 
shipping water like a canal boat crossing the lake when 

Zip ! 

The clewline tackle stranded, then broke, and her sail 
slid down the boom almost to the mast. The next instant she 
bore away before the wind and was running like a wildcat 
away from the coveted mai'k with hei' heli)less crew, the 
helm hard down and the rudder s(piare across her stern, })low- 
ing up the water like an ex})osed ])ro[)cller ])]ade. Only the 
most skillful seamanship such as is developed in the fisliing 
craft of the Gi'cat Lakes, ])rcvented a disaster before she could 
be l)rouglit to the wind and her sails reefed. This last acci- 



WIND AND WKATIIKl^ I'KH.M ITTI Nc ()'.• 

(lent Itrouolit the boats very close toiictliei- ai.d as they st 1 

out for the mark all eyes were eeiiteivd upon the scene and 
many were the sjieculations as to the outcome. 

■' There slu' ooes. '" a dozen voices shoutetl as one hoat, 
not half the crowd knew winch, rounded the mark and sijuared 
away for the home buoy. The next instant the other maneu- 
vered in the same mauner and the two l)oats threaten to cap- 
size, first on one side and tlien on the other, so heavy is the 
roll. A bright, new lugsail is sent u]). and a cheer goe.s up as 
the home boat is recognized in the rear l)Ut now fast overhaul- 
ing her competitor v.i!!i tl;e crew in white duck. Tlii' Fancy, 
startled at the strain of another -ail, lea])ed forward like a 
deer, and the rolling subsiding in a measure by the balancing 
of the new sail, she steadied down for the six-mile run with 
less foam and froth in a very business-like way. 

" A starn chase is a long chase, " commented old Mar- 
ceau, as he recognized the advantage to the boat of the son of 
his dead enemy. 

"Why don't them dandy mai'ines stick out a lugger, the 
lubbers, " he continued. 

A voice cried ''Shame. " but it was drowned in the loud 
huzzas as the Fancy passed the other, one of the civw holding 
out a rope as if offering a tow. 

The already vanquished foreigner ran u]) his lugsail peak 
down, not (hiring to set the whole sail, but he was yet slow 
and the Fancy liad already near a minute l!ic 1c;mL in a few 
minutes the contest was over and a bundled hands met tiie 
i*'an<'V and lifted her (dear of the watei' high and dry on the 
beach the moment she reache<! the shore. The stranger Jticked 
up his anchor, dipped his ensign. tire(j ;i brass gun and ac- 
knowled^■ed defeat in a verv naval-hke manner which (piickly 



*0 



WIN!) AXt) WEATHKJ; Pl':r-tMlTTIX<; 



cToatt'd a i'ccliiiLi,- of admiration foi' tlio crew (Irossod in wliito 
<lnck. 

Old Maiv;'au wont hoinr. 

He wiadd have (|uickly returned had lie observed a drip- 
pin;^- sailor, who bad consideral)le reseniljlanee to the trim 
lookinu' eluij) who went out as the skipper of the Fancy, wateli 
him well away and then stroll over to a younu' lady in white, 
under a wide hat. 

" Joby, I'm glad, " said the white ii<iure. 

" I'm glad you'r glad. " 

" You Won't race again, will you ? " 

'• Onles.s 1 see till' skip})er in white duck talkin' soft to 
yon. " 

" I didn't. •' 

•• lie did. '■ 

" ( )h you old Jealous ; that was ])a"s ])lasterer, Tiiu l"'a- 
gan. Now I " 

■• I)y mighty, I dunno but you'r right. "' And they 
strolled down the street to see tlu' wheelbarrow I'aees, greasy 
pig and what the pesters denominated smaller s})orts. Hut 
.lohy turned his faee and softly whispered to himself: 

'• By the horn spoon I If I'd a known tlu.t was Tim in 
his plaster overhalls, I'd a lost the race sure as liuns. " 



Wars and Rumors of Wars. 

Napoleon 13oiia|)artt> Marceaii canic into the l(»,u' cabin 
just before the shadow fell Ujiun tlie iiooii-iiiark on the window 
sill. He set a pot of V)eans on the hearth from the liook in 
the fireplace, and Innig in its stead an eni])ty rye-and-Indian 
kettle, threw in some scrap lead, oiled the buHet molds and 
began cleaning a rather bright-looking tbnt lock made in part 
l)y his own Jiands. 

His wife protested against such ru(h' interference with 
diinier : 

" Bone Marceau J am sick of the smell of venison. So 
you needn't go. I'll cook no more of it in this house. "' 

" Cook it outdoor then, " responded Marceau. 

Soon he had run a poudi full of bidlets. which he hur- 
riedly trimmed, and then ran a pocket half full to make sui'c 
of a good supply. Seizing a piece of smoked venison and the 
half of a corn meal cake which he wrap])c(l in a ])icce of linen 
and shoved into a [)ocket, he jticked up the musket, slinging 
])owder horn and shot bag over his neck, and with gun at 
" shoulder arms" he strode out the door giving the wife this 
admonition which containe(l the first intimation of his inten- 
tions : 

•■ r>e keei-ful of the tires and milk the cow reg'hir. The 



V2 VVAilS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

British is ooin' for to try to take the Harbor and we are goin' 
to sliow \'m onee more how we hen fitten at gineral trainin', " 
and lie was off to the war witliout ronumee, or goodliv formal- 
ities, except a dignitied military salute to his wife at a point 
where the ])ath disa})peared in the woods. 

Th? wifeealk'd to him to " take no risks and wateli out lor 
thein j)esky Hessians and hired Ingens." 

" Lord ! " she exclaimed, " war and hlood at our very 
do:)rs. ■' Then she .sat down and cried over her loneliness 
and the distress of the country. 

The next day in the midst of her spininng she was star- 
tled hy tlie distant hooni of a cannon, then another and an- 
other. 

" The alarm guns ! " she exclaimed. 

Mrs. Marceau had not seen the maneiiverings of the Brit- 
ish fleet on the lake as her husband liad, and the report of the 
alarm guns was the first intimation she had had of real war. 
Slipping on a woolen shawl she ran a ndle to the nearest 
neighbor, Mrs. Lane. Tliat good woman was mounted on a 
wagon looking soutnward as if sight would pierce the hills 
and woods and reveal the scene of the battle. Her husband, 
too, had gone at his country's call, but less informally than 
liad Marceau. The two women whispered and watched in tlie 
direction of the battle. A dense cloud of smoke lifted itself 
slowly above tlie hills and treetops on the ()p})()site sliore, and 
more certainly locatccl the struggle in human blood. The 
cannonading ceased as suddenly as it began and the two wo- 
lULMi chit"Iu';l each other's clothing as each looked incjuiringly 
at the other. There was a faint rattle of the discharge of 
small arms and for a moment silence. Then the louder report 
of a musket readied tlieir t'ars. 

" P)ar-r-ng I '" it said, if translated into talk. 



Wars axd nuMons of wars. t'^ 

'' 1 fear their j)o\V(ler is gone, " said tlio elder of the wo- 
men, ''that was neither a nmsket nor a cannon, nnless it he 
the hist l)it of i»o\v(U'r tired from a cannon. "" 

"That was my hnshand's mu^^ket, "" rejthed Mrs. Mar- 
ceau positively. "That was my husl)and's 'Old ['tica. ' as he 
calls it. and he says it takes a h;ill a third heavier than anv 
gun west of Alhany, " she added with a show of j)ride. 

No sleep came to their eyes tliat night as they ivvolved 
over and over the j)rohahility of snccess or defeat. Hoping 
and pi'aying, over and again they imagined the e.\})ei'iences of 
widowhood, and treiidjled at the least noise lest it were the ap- 
pi-oach of the Ih-itish. Morning came and with it the duties 
of the day. hut work was out of the (juestion. The childi'en 
were ke})t indoors. The clank of oars caught their attention 
and to the shore they cautiously made their way. 

"Thank ( Jod ! M'e are not widows, " fervently spoke Mrs. 
Lane. 

A boat was approaching and instead of Hessians the hus- 
hands of the frightened women landed. 

Marceau's hand was wrap]»e(l in the linen tliat had served 
the purpose of a napkin when he had hastily sei/e(l his lunch. 

"(Jot a ball through my han<l, "" he half apologized, •• but 
if twan't pizened I shan't be bothered long. It came after the 
bugle sounded to ' cca.se firing, ' but I gin 'em one salute Iroiu 
' Old Utica, ' as they pulled out to the ship in their boats, just 
to make 'em bail as they bed to f )r I seen a splinter leave her 
starii. " 

" Y(\s, " .said the neighl>or, " you made a bigger hole in 
the bfjat than they did in y(an- han(f Til warn you. Show 
'em your venison, Sargeant, " and he saluted his sii]>ei'ior olli- 
cer, who had received a promotion witlnait ha\ing been en- 
rolle 1 in the sei'vice. Tlie veiiisun was pi'oduced and a hole 



/4 WARS AND lUMoRS <)K WARS. 

almost closed was first cxliihitod and then turned to the o|ij)osite 
si(h', where a little of the sul)stane(> had heen cut away show- 
ing- the end of a })ointe(l hall which had lodge<l there wliile the 
})iec;' was still in his pocket. 

" Tough meat that, or 1 wouldn't be here, " coldly vv- 
marked Marceau, and the women shuddered at a realizing 
sense of the horrors of war not yet revealed to them l)y the in- 
jured hand which had not been uncovered. 

Ill the excitement of the return, a young man dressed in 
a semi-military uniform was nearly forgotten. 

" Here Bill, " suddenly called Lane, '' come u}) and get 
ac(iuainted with the women. This is my woman, and this 
I^one's wife — Leftenant \'aughan, who has come hum witli us 
to larn what the Britishers Ml do next. " 

The young man bowed low, saluted, and the ladies court- 
esied. 

'' Ve don't look real pert and well, stranger, " remarked 
Mrs. Lane. " Come in and sit by. I've some wheat flour and 
1 will have some white biscuits and honey. Don't "pear to me 
as you are any great eater, anyway. " 

The young boatswain said he " didn't mind, " if the men 
were going in. " Lieutenant " was a title facetiously api)lied 
l)y Lane to make his introduction moi'o impressive. 

" You see, " began Lane as they entered the house, ''me 
and Marceau got to the barracks just afore the Britishers made 
Horse Island, and the leftenant here wants to get the lay ot 
the land hereabouts. Bein's Bone and me see the redcoats ])int- 
in' that way when we ware scoutin on our own hook" 

"Avast, there!" growled Marceau, " you'r losin' \cv 
beaiin's agin, neighbor. The leftenant is a great angler and 
l)ein' a little offen his feed he's about to take pot luck with us 
and recooperate by way of huntin' 'n fishin'. " 



WARS AM) i;(M(ti;s oi' \VAi;s. T," 

•• And if that don't liclp you jest trv l)lecdin\ "' added 
l.aiu' with a wink that ran fi-oni tlic vim\<- of his neck up into 
his sral}). It was a sly di.iiat Mareean who nccdh'ssly sutfnvd 
shame at reeeivino- a woumh 

■• I)etter try a steepin' of ])]antain leaves and snake-ro<it 
fust," timidly ])ut in Mrs. Mareean at a ])ause. 

Lords of ereation I In the interest of truth it must he 
stated that the two settlers had heen smuuolino- p,,t an<l pearl 
ashes into Canada when they learned of the ai>proaeh of the 
lii'itisli fleet, lonu' hefore the alarm ^uns were sounded. 

And the siekly lieutenant I He was sound as a huliet, 
and had been sent out as a scout to reeonnoiter the lake shore 
and lind the enemy's vantaiiv jioints on tlie St. Lawrence I\iv- 
er. He was an aeknowlcd.ued marksman with the fowling;' 
])ieee. or a ■24-pounder from the deck of the llaii'sliip. He was 
a studious sailoi', too. not content with steering- his trick, he 
passed his wat(di helow studyino- some old prints on the seienee 
of naviuation. 

\^iu,L!,han passed many days eoastinu' the shoi'es between 
( iravelly Point and Stony Point, sea rchiuii' out harbors and 
shoals, watching for the enemy, and reporting- his occasional 
])resenee at the Liver into which he ventured a few times, al- 
ways in company with his new-found friends. Lane and Mar- 
eean. 

Wlien he rctui'ued to the post at Sackets I larboi', ( ienei'al 
A\'ilkinson had su])ercedcd (Jenrral Prown and wa-^ foi'nnda- 
ting a ])lan to descend the Liver with an overwhelming foi'cc 
and capture .Montreal. To this plan W-uighan. who had been 
pi'omote(l to sailing-master, made strenuous objections when 
lie was calleil into the conference. 

The ollicei's studied a rude ni;ip which Vaughan had has- 



70 WARS AND Kl'MOUS OF WARS. 

tily drawn from a knowledi^-e gained while scouting on the 
lake shore. 

" What yon have heen accustomed to call an island, 
here," ex})lained the scout, "is really a peninsula connected 
with the main shore by a strip of land about ten yards wide. 
1 })ulled my boat across it often and found a most excellent 
harbor inside. Outside in the lake lies an island well toward 
(Iravelly Point, which eontains a fine harbor almost land- 
locked. Its form is that of a l)asin and we have named it 
l^asin Harl)or. That point would make a very desirable ren- 
dezvous for the expedition to ^[ontreal, if that is the campaign 
upon which you are determined. The harbor can l)e reached 
from the east side in small boats, but not l)y those of deep 
draft. The approach from the lake side is dangerous for those 
unacquainted v.dth these waters. One must hug the north 
shore clo.se to find a deep cliannel leading right into the har- 
bor. Not far t)ut lie treacherous rocky ledges, but once clear 
of these shoals the harbor will protect the whole fieet. " 

Our Heet was assembled at Orenadier Island on tlie "iTth, 
at least sucli of our boats as survived a gale which set in dur- 
ing the niglit ( )f this exjx'dition Dr. Hough wrote : 

At tliis late season of the yeai'. when with no other enemy 
but the weatlu'r, it would seem the extremity of folly to at- 
tempt the navigation of the lake in open boats, from the ])eril 
arising fi'oui sudden tempests, it was dccidcMl to pass the ene- 
my's Heet and army, and descend n|)on Montreal, allowingthe 
enemy the privilege of attacking on his own tei'ritoiy in both 
IVont and rear, with an inliniate knowledge of tlie country 
and its resources, and every ad\anlage that a skillful com- 
mander could have desired, had the selection of circumstances 
been left to him. \'iewed in its ju'oper light, the expedition 
jnay be justl;)^ considered an outrage u[)on reasoii ant] con> 



WAi;S AND IMMons ol' NVAi;S. // 

nion sense, and justly entitled to tlir ediuni wldeli has been 
attaelied to it. 

On the -Unh of ()ct()l)er. at noon, (.rdei's were issued for 
the heavy, liuht and flying artillery. eoinnian<leil l»y Colonels 
I'orter. Eustis and .Maeonib, and the tbui'th lu-ipide. eoni- 
nianded by I)ri,t2,adier-{Teneral Swartwout. of the infantry, to 
embark, and proceed immediately to Basin Harbor, in (irena- 
di'n- Island. At six p. m. the whole embarked, and i)ut oft' with 
a favoral)le wind, the transports mostly consisting of scows, 
Durham l)oats, common lake sail boats, and bateaux, contain- 
ing besides oiiicers and soldiers, ordnance, ammunition, hospi- 
tal stores, baggage, and two montlis' provisions for the trooj)s. 
An unpardonable negligence was evinced during these and tlie 
following movements, in the custody and .safe keeping of the 
supplies, immense quantities of which were ultimately lost. 

There was a defieiency of experienced pilots, and the nu'U 
in the boats were mostly unaccustomed to thcii- management. 
either in good or l)ad weather, and particularly in a dark 
night, and. in ])assiiig ])oints of land where they were' nnac 
(piaintcil with the soundings and cui'rents, and at a season 
when sudden and violent temjx'sts ai-e liable to ai-ise without 
warning. 

The wind and weather favored until one o'clock a. ni., 
wlien the boats a])])eared to be nnich scattered ; some had 
lande(l on Pillar Point, and I'oint Peninsula : some had en- 
leivd Chauniont Pay. and other inlets: others had lande<l on 
CheiTy. stony and Ib.i'se islan.ls, and others stood off tor 
Kingston, where one boat, with an otlicer and ten nieu. i- said 
to have ai-rived in safety. Srveral boat- landed on l.oug 
Psland, in Pi'itish territory, and some >al'ely reached their 
destination at P)asin Harbor. At half past two the wind 
f^llifted nearlv aliead, and blew f res] i fron) fhe lake, by which 



WARS AND Itl'MOKS OK WAK 



many boats out in the ivai, and discoverino- lights on the 
shore, attenn)t(.'(l to reach them, in whieli some succeeded. It 
soon l)etian to rain, and the wind increased to a ti,ah\ \n winch 
the boats and scows which liad landed, were drifted and beaten 
on the shore, which in some places was rongh a.nd rocky, 
while others, still on the lake, jnade the tii'st [loint of land 
they could discover to save themselves. The morning dis- 
closed a scene of desolation truly distressing. Tlie shores of 
the islands and main land were strewn with broken and 
sunken boats, and the day was s})ent in unloading such as 
could be reached, and in endeavoring to save such perishable 
articles as could be found, the gale continuing through that 
day and tlie following night. On the ISth, the wind having 
abated, several boats were got oft' from the rocks, and arrived 
at Basin Harbor, but on the next day the storm increased, and 
several boats t]i;',t liad attempt h1 to gain their rendezvous, 
were driven l)aek u})on the shores. On the 2()th the day was 
favorable, and many of the sound boats reached Basin Harbor. 
The brigades of Oenei'als l^)rown. Boyd and Covington 
which had encanijied at Henderson ]Iarl)oi-, arrived at (Ji'ena- 
dier Island on the -^Oth. Of the flotilla that had left Sackets 
Harbor, fifteen large boats were entiivly lost, many others, 
with several scows werr much damaged, and a large (luantity 
of bread was desti'oyed. The troops remained encamped on 
the island until the first of November, engaged in rcjiairiiig 
the boats and making preparations to descend the St. Law- 
I'ence. The weather meaiiwhile continued stormy, and snow 
fell lothedeplh of ten incT.es. Many of tlie regulars were 
IV(.m the sonUiei-n stales, and unae<aistomed to the severity of 
a northern winter, and in fins expedition, especially at a later 
poriod, sud'eivd extremely from the rigoi' of the climate, which 
produced a frightful niurialily ainong (hem, 



\VAi;s AXD UIMORS OF WAltS. 



Oil the -iSth, mm; of 111,, sick were ]nit oil l.oard cf ;i 



to Sackcts !Ia 



W 



lIKllisoli ;;1T1\-('(1 o 



the "iTth, andtiiKliii^ a kii'.m' l)o(!y slill in t!ic I'ca.r, winckcd 
or stranded, rctunicd to .'■NU-kcts llarlior (o order a suj)ply of 
winter clotliin^ and shoes, for the tro(»|)s on the i>hin(h some 
of wlioni were nearly destitnte. lie ohserved nnniy 1 ires of 
troo])s alon,<2,- the sliore. hnt the \\ind was s!» violent that he 
could not eoininnnieate with theiii. ( )n the 'I'Ad, ( 'oloiiel ( 'ole 
arrived with 'Hn) men, of the Titli ivoinu^nt, and sailed for the 
rendezvous, an<l the (irowler was sent to (Isweu't) for ('oloncds 
Haiidolpli and Scott, who were expectetl there, and as many 
men as the vessel could carry. The ^'cnei'al returne<l the same 
day to (irena<lier Island and arrived otf the island at eiii,ht in 
the evening, the Weather continuin,^ hoisterous diirinu' this 
ni,<2,lit and the day following,', with fre(|Uei)t rains ami heavy 
.uales, so that a landin.u could not he etfected until the -Joth. 

In the intervals of the ,ual", opportunities were watched 
to slip detachments of hoats into the St. Lawrence, hut so 
treacherous were the lulls of the tem])est, that .ureat peril was 
eneountere(l in passing- from <<renadiei- Island to Cape \'in- 
cent, a distance of nine miles. .Many hoats were dri\-en 
ashore and much provisions and (dothin.u- were lost, (ieiieral 
I-)rown was ordered \n take command of t lie ad vance and |io-t 
hiiiis(df at I'hvnch ( 'reek, where the detiehm 'iil^- wei'e ordered 
to rendezN'ous. The ( li'owler ai-ri \('<| at <lrena<lier Islaml mi 
the :;ist, with 2-JO men of the -JOth regiment, and on the 'id of 
Xovemher, Chauncey took a position to protect the south chan- 
nel, where it ^vas a|)p;'eliende(l the enemy would enter and oc- 
cii|)y I'^ort ('ai-leton. which, with soim. repaii's, woiiM have 
effectually commanded that (diannel, and compelled the 
American army to wintei' on Lake Ontario, or run the o-ji nut- 
let under the l)atterit's of Kin.uston. I'ei'haps no poiid on tlie 



An WARS AXn lU'MORS OP WARS. 

river is so admirably ada])to(l for a military post, as tho head 
ofCarletoii Island, and it has l)een justly called the (dbralter 
of this })assage. 

So much for prosy history. General Brown's tieet was 
piloted from Grenadier Island to Freneli ('reek by Lane, Mar- 
cean and (now) ('ai)t:nn A'auuhan, thonoii tlie latter had been 
so far in the Kiver on Itut one occasion, and that in tlie nio-ht. 
As they passed Bartlett's Point the .general saw in that prom- 
ontory the advantage of })osition, and a battery of three eigh- 
teen-pounders was landed, drawn np the hill, and K'ft 'in com- 
mand of Captain Mcd'herson. (a])tain N'anghan was detailed 
as expert gunner, and the com])liment to his marksmanship 
pleased him more than would a promotion to commodore of 
tlie Heet. Mis old friends, the smugglers, ])iloted thetleetinto 
tlie bay at the mouth of French Creek, jiast Indian I'oint, 
where the west end of the l)ridge rests today, and uj) the stream 
to a point suitable for a camp of seven thousand men. Tlie 
])lacc once called Wilkinson's J'oint, is better known as the 
llubl)ard House farm. 

A sharp lookout was kept niglit and day at Bartlett Point, 
now Prospect Park, inasmuch as it was known that tlie enemy 
was lurking among these Thousand Islands, and his i)resence 
might not be discovered until he had readied an uncomfoi'ta- 
l>le proximity. Th(> two ])ilots coasted about in canoes ac- 
(luainting themselves the better witli the intricacies of the 
channels, big and little, deep and shallow, miri-ow and wide. 

l''rom the battery a wide sweei> of vision was had njiand 
down the Ivivcr. The view directly across was limited by the 
dense growth of (irs. balsams, jiines and hemlocks which in 
places apj)eare(l rooted in the very granite foundations. Caji- 
tain N'aughan, seated upon his gun, drank in the beauties of 
the scene with more than the appic'ciati(jn (.f an ordinary sol- 



Wars and lU'.Mons of wai^s. 



81 



rlier. Early frosts had tinted tlu' leaves, and the lire red tiia]»lo 
backed by the varied shades of oreeii and ui'ay pive back a 
sharp reflection in the still autumn day. I'^'oiu liis elevat((l 
])osition the observer fell to notin,<i' llie appai'ent reonlarity 
with Avhieh the dead pines were stationeil like so many silent 
sentinels, an ettect the more striking-, the ,ureater the distance. 

Was that the win_u- of a hu,u(> bird in a deiul tantaracdc ? 

Captain \'au^han, standing np. iir(in,ulit a lonu' spyglass 
into range and gazed intently at a, tall tree which had been 
Itlasted by lightning. The air was luit in motion, yet he dis. 
tinctly saw the Ihittering as of a Hag in the breeze, a full league 
down stream. JIastily dispatching a messenger f )r the ])ilots 
he noted the a[)[)earance and disap])earance of the plienomeiial 
signal which Nature in Iht freakiest mood conld not sinui- 
late. 

The pilots arrived from the camp at Wilkinson's Point 
and were saluted in an unconcerned mainici'. and i\\r\\ drawn 
back U})on a knoll a little ajtart from tlie gun crews. 

The captain pointed northerly toward the (lead tree which 
towered al)0ve the oaks and maph's. 

" Now, watch. "" 

A white flag was waved from hoi'izon to horizon, and in 
the Idaze of sunlight its outline became xcry distinct. 

"One, two, three," counted tiie captain, and after a i»ause 
the signalling was i-esumed. This time the oliservers conntcd 
two, then, after another pause, one. 

The gaze of the ])ilots met in a haU-(piizzical expression. 

" Cap'n. we've seen that kind of Ihitterin' l)ef(«re, eh! 
Marceau, when we crossed with the last hiad of jxitash "" 

■• Shet up, Pane I Do you want the hull rcvcime ossilers 
arter yer onworthy skin ".' The feller np a tree's got a j)ard- 
ner, ('a})'n. Want tosei'him".' Then promise me and l,ane 



-S-2 



WARS AND RUMORS OK WAliS. 



<M ])r()in()tion to admirals oftliis ik'ct and I'll sIidw you totlier 

one, l)esides ' 

" Nonsense, nien, " interrupted ilie cn|»tain, " if you know 
anything- more of tliis tlutterini:,- business tliau F ean ouess, 
out witli it for tliis is no time for sport. " 

" Iviiiiit you are, " said Lane, and he s\vei)t the Ujistream 
shore with his liand as ?dareeau hrou^iit liis gaze to a stand- 
still 

" There's his |»ar(lner, " said the ])il()t as a signal was 
waved from anotlier treetoj) on the (V.nadian shore. 

" 'I)Out six mild a})ai't in these ratholes, ( ap"n. Lots on 
'em between Kingston and W'indnnll Lint. " 

" Yes, "offered Lane, " the sinugolers used to think the 
customs house officers elindx'd trees to warn ttie a])])roaeh of 
Yankee ])otash ])eddlei's. " 
•• Well?" 

•• Well, it means ther's a gunboat or two, or maybe a bi'ig, 
or two or tliree schooners betwixt them air treeto[)s, sir, and 
if you want the feller in the tree just give the order. ]\L' an' 
Lane'll bring him ! " 

" Yes — no, " responded the ca])tain, still watching for the 
reappearance of tlie signals. ■' it may be we can read as well 
as they, after we learn. " 

'Idle i)ilots disagreed as to the exact location of the ti'ee 
hrst observed l)y ( aptain X'aughan, and aftei' obtaining per- 
nnssion, paddled oit with the current to make a closer inspec- 
tion of the locality. .\fter going a nnle or more they located 
the tree niort' accurately, and then remendx'nd that near it a 
palisade opened into a large bay of shallow water. These 
palisades would screen a tall mast from any but an open view 
at each end of the chann(L 



WAKS AND lU'MOKS OF WAKS. 



83 



Suddenly Mai'ccau touched I.auc (in tlic sliouldcr and 
poiiitrd sio-uilic;intl}' to tlie main fliauucl to tlic noitliwanl. 

Hotli paddles rested in the watei'. 

A hri^- llyiuL!,- the l)rit!sh jack lay moored to a j»reci]>itou< 
cliti' whither she had l)eeu helplessly eai'i'ied hy the current 
when the wind ^ave out. Towerint>- ahove a low island could 
he seen some masts. A small boat, approachinij,- the hriji,-, 
seemed hlled with soldiers. 

The pilots were for the moment seized with tlie •' fevei-. "' 
Their first move was to turn ahout and pa.ddle hr.ck under the 
friendly shadow ot an island, and then cxchan^inu- iileas hy a 
mere ^"lance, they set their paddles deep and shot the canoe 
l)ack toward the rendezvous with lon.u'. rapid strokes. .\t the 
shore they parted, Lane to rejxirt to (icneral Wilkinson, the 
other to (Ai})tain ^'au,^■han. 

The latter met Ahirceau in the l)rush for he had seen the 
pilots returning- and sus{)ected the enemy's prestaice. Attei- 
receivin*;- the news he walked hack to hisuun. which he patted 
affectionately after carefvdly noting that everythin^i was in 
readiness. 

'• This ex])( ditiou is a fool joh. Marceau. "" he half mused^ 
" for here are we with the enemy in front, in the I'eai- and on 
the flank. This is defeiidinii- our country hut not savin.u' it as 
I look at it. •• 

" Be that as it may. " replied (he othei', ■• ther'll he husi- 
ness on this hill hefoi-e another sun sets if the w'wul Mowsany- 
think short of a hma-icaiie. 

A sii^hin^ in the pines su.u'^ested wind, hut as yet the 
water ha<l not heeii disfurhed. The ,ulassy sui-face .uave hack 
a smilini;- reflection of Xatui'c's face, and hirds in Iheii' lliulit 
shot downward at their own shadows e.\|)eetinu to make the 
ac(|uaintance of anothei- of their kiinL 



84 \VAJ;S AND KUMOliS 01'' WARS. 

" Another ni^ht-brceze from the north, " suo-gested Mai'- 
cean, wlio had ])een watching the moving branches. " The 
l)rig will make our ;'.C(|uaintance before many h(»urs, eh ! cap- 
tain ? "' 

The captain did not hee;l. He was sweeping thel)ay, the 
shore and the islands with his glass and making mental cal- 
culations. The battery was masked l)ehin(l some fallen trees 
an:l a g;)o;i breastwork of logs. Tiii.' enemy undoubtedly had 
information of the concentration ot tlie troo})sin French Creek, 
but they would seek in vain for the battery, even if they sus- 
pected its presence on the ])romontory. 

The nortlierly breeze stiffened and one after another of 
the beautiful reflections were ei'ased from the face of the waters 
as a frown swept over them with the increasing rip})le. Fled 
like a smile tVom a ha}i]»y i'ace was the enchanted isles which 
a inoment before had been suspended trees downward in a 
l)eautiful nnrror set in a frame of gneiss, or forming a rich 
fringe as from a beautiful garment. The horror of war was 
spreading over all the landscape as occasional clouds obscured 
the sun. 

\\\is yonder ship growing out of the rocks, coming up out 
of the deep, or gracefully alighting from an aerial flight? An- 
other and yet another secnud to launch from the mass of 
green and gold leaves into which the descending sun shot his 
brightest rays as a beacon light reveals an otlu'rwise hidden 
d angel'. 

\'aughan warned fhe sentinel, he gave the alarm, messen- 
gers were dispatchc*! to (ieneral A\'ilkinson"s camp, and then 
tlu' drums sounded the long roll. Seemingly out of the rocky 
walls the licet of the enemy came in a light breeze. Two brigs, 
two schoonci's, and several smaller boats loaded with infantry, 
he munbercMl. The pilots were I'vidently uuac(piaintcd with 



WARS AND KTMOliS OK WARS. S.) 

tlu' waters tliey were navigatiiio'. A brii;- led the l\vr\ and it 
was evident that it was the ])ur|)(>se to i^o into the niontli of 
the creek and uive the Americans l)attle on shore, and umha- 
the ])rotection of the naval guns. 

Charcoal tires Avere lighted at the battery, and wires were 
kei)t hot for hring tlie powder which was put into the nui/./Je 
of the guns in bags. Captain A^aughan had iua(h' his reputa- 
tion at Sackets Harbor when he etfectuaUy ca})tained a tJiirty- 
two pounder loaded witli twenty-foui's. the (U-hciency made up 
by wrajiping carpets around tlie l)alls. He was (k'termined 
that the set of sun should not see the luster of his ])rowe.>-s 
dimmed on this occasion. The fleet ap])roached Bartlett Point 
and as the largest brig lu'gan to wai'e off Ca])tain Mcl'herson 
gave the order to give battle — Ca})tain N'aughan to lire liist. 
He waited until the masts ai)[>eared as one and gave the word 
to his mate to hre. Marceau already had the retl hot wii'e in 
hand and at the word ran it down th(> vent. 

The gun spoke. 

The commander, watching through the glass, saw all 
thive shots fall short of the mark. 

The invaders were evidently surprised at a sa.lute from 
that (piarter, for the brig luffed as if her mastei- wished to 
make a closer ac([Uaintance. and then poured out a broadside 
at the hill. Their aim was bad and the balls whistled high 
over the battery, while the otherwise silent woeds mockingly 
echoed and re-echoed the roar. l)y this tinu' Captain N'aughan 
was again ready ibr another shot. As beibiv, he took careful 

aim and when the smeke cleared away lu' had the p ■ ceiiso- 

lation of seeing the la'ig's sail< t<irii and the rigging evi<lently 
cut. The other guiniers m»w ]taid theii' respects to ihe second 
brig and the schooners, 'idiey shot away some of the rigging, 
but no serious damage was done until the brig which L'avt' the 



'"" WARS AXD RUMOKS OK WAR8. 

invitation t.. l.attlo was nearly liove to the third time to pw- 
sent a l):'(.a(lsi,|,.. ^ 

"Now.- s.i.l \'an-hant(> his mate, "get evervtlnn^ rea<lv 
tor a .in:ek lire and T wiH <h. some dama-e if powder .^■iil 
carry a ball. " 

The brio- bore up to tlie wind and just as the yards swuno- 
around and the masts ha<l barely ].assed out of ran o;., the ea]^ 
tani sighted his pieee. .Alareeau already stood by 1dm with 
the red h,.t wires an<l at the word pusli.d one down the yent 
and j.irreod tlio ba.o- ,.f powd<.r wlm-h had been rammed down 
behind two balls. T\w single bag of powder had been re-iu- 
torecd by near half a bag whieli Marceau had .luietly ],oured 
in, contrary to orders. 

'Jhe gun roared, the promontory trembled, tlie smoke hid 
the enemy. 

"Well done," shouted (V»nnnander Afel'herson, as the 
I'hick yeil lifted. " \^aughan you haye brought down the 
to rem a st. " 

'idns called out a cheer from the entire battery, as well as 
a broadsid,. from the second brig. The tieet had been describ- 
ing a rirelc in tho maneuyor. as th.w w.»re around un.l stood 
away from the creek, when salut.'.l ir,,„i the masked battery 
The small boats of infmtry were inetfectual at that I'an-o. an(i 
ma<lc but one moye to land. That was etfectually cheeked by 
tlie battery's concentrating its fire u])on the schomier that at- 
tempted to ])rotect them in landing. Tlie tleet was now ch.se 
together and aflonlcl an excellent mark, but as tlie liads tore 
their sails aiul rigging they realized the superiority of the ]h.- 
sition of the Americans and witli the small boats towed the 
<lisabh(l brig out, and soon the whole tleet dropped down 
stream with the current, tlie win.l haying <lied away. 

l>u]'ing this haltdiour's engagement tlie tn.i.j.s in the 



WAiJs AM) i;r.\i()i;s oi- \vai;s. 87 

(•;iiii|i liad hiH'ii (Irawii up in dress jjai'adc and stood at rest as 
idle spectators. Most of tlicni had Ix'cii under lire, lait not a 
few of tlieni \vinee(l as the l)alls fi-orn tlie ])ort side of the Wi-iu' 
^vhistle(l over their heads and fell harmless into the marsh or 
woods hevond. Only a few of them were favored with a view 
of the l)attle. The enemy was less fortunate for it is exddent 
that they di<l not know the exact location of the rendezvous as 
their aim was much too high. Two men at the hattery were 
wounded and one was killed outright. The British loss was 
not a!-;certained. and great or small the world loses notlnug hy 
lack of information I'egaT'ding tlje numerical slaughter in hu- 
man Mood on this or any other occasion. 
Night came. 

The pickets were red()ul)lcd ahont the rendezvous, and 
every preparation was made to guard against a sui-prise hy 
land and water. The exultant Anu'rieans l<new full well the 
temper of the race with which they had to deal, and past ex- 
periences had taught them that this foe. tliough defeati'd. 
was not vanquished. The night was cool, with just wind 
enough moving to tnmhle against the shores a slight swell 
which falling with a I'cgular cadence lulled the soldier into 
sleep, or set hiui tumhling on his hemlock couch as the 
nervous system was tuned to h.ai'inony or otherwise. ( Iften in 
the darkness the sentinels wcic staitled hy tl;e mourni'ul cry 
of the loon, or the shar[) heating of his wings and feet iii)ou 
the water in his clumsy attt'mpts at Might. 
The morning came. 

Sum-ise at the Thousand Inlands ! M'he first faiid glow of 
light in the east foreshadowed the glories of the dawn of a 
heautiful day. Not so much as a hreath of air uiox.mI, for the 
very wind was awed iido silence^ as the mellow light turned to 
ii soft pink ;uid then Id a glowing red which sj)read over that 



88 WARS AND lU'MOKS OF WARS. 

portion of the liorizon. In the water tlie eliangiiig tints were 
('()])iu(l as upon tlie })aintei'"s canvas. Lono- shadows crept 
away from tlie trees crownin,"- the rocky bhilfs whose sides the 
water hizily hipped, just as a fond mother awakens a child with 
a caress lest it l)e startled at a too sudden awakening. The air, 
laden with the ivsinous odors of cone-bearing trees, seemed to 
have gained volume during the night, and the soldiers from 
tlie far south declared they could fairly taste it. Here and 
there a shining maskalonge, the Frenchman's " long-face, " 
sliot out of his native element and fell hack with a resounding 
splasli upon the still surface. A A'-shaped Hock of geese, led 
by the regular '' quonk, (juonk, " of a. sober old ])ilot gander, 
roused com})any after company of the slee})ing troopers who 
contentedly fell back again at the responsive " la-la-lunk, " of 
the mother goose as they pressed their flight southward. The 
sentries forgot their beats, and looking over the rude ramparts 
become lost in admiration of the miraculous birth of another 
day. The morning star faded. The halo of morn was rein- 
forced with bright rays shooting upwaid and outward by com- 
l)anies like glistening s])ears b(hin<l a golden battlement which 
a tieecy cloud caught up in bold rcHt'ction as if to mirroi" the 
s])lendors of a glorir)Us sunrise for Nature's own admiration. 
Higlier and yet higher sliot the ])iiniacles of light. Shorter 
and shorter drew the shadows. Fainter and fainter became 
tlie red glow, and lighter and lighter became the leafy caverns 
that a moment ago seemed dark and impenetrabl(\ The glis- 
leiiiug channels, which lay scattered about like silver threads, 
shot away into the more iutricnte and all 1)ut inaccessible 
lahyrinths of this miglily cathedral not of man's construction. 
A flock of wliistle-wings tacked upstream, and a sol)er 
crane slowly beat tlic air as with legs stretched back like a 
pair of pad(lles, aiKJ iKH'k closely coiled, he sought liis fuYQVitQ 



M'AKS AND rUMoKS ^)V WAliS. SO 

w;i(liii,u- iihicc where frogs weiv onH'iiest. and little tisli most 
venturesome. I'pwar*! and upwai'd clinilKMl the streaks of red 
and white and ycdlow, until as with a myriad ^A' Li:>ldeil wires 
the sun's disk was slowly lifted into tlie hoi'i/.oii whence he 
was to eut his way across the heavens in the ceaseless pursuit 
of ever-fleetinu- dawn. 

The reveille I 

Bugle sound and beat of drum reealLs the stern fact that 
in the midst of these peaceful solitudes War. re(l-handed, 
blood-thirsty War, stalks abroad in a reign of terror. 

When the dis-.bled fleet drifted out of range (.f the bat- 
tery, Commander McPherson was anxious to follow and over- 
taking them complete the victory. Not for a moment did he 
think that the policy of General Wilkinson would be other- 
wise. His anxiety was the possibility that hiscommand would 
be ordered to remain, and others be sent out in their stead. 
No orders were issued and the attacking party departed as un- 
molested as though going for an outing. 

" \'aughan, " suggested the commander, when it was cer- 
tain no oi'ders for the pursuit were to issue. " what do you say 
to following the fleet and bringing them back as prizes? " 

" (ret thee behind me, Satan," quoted \'aughan. " It's a 
shame to let them slip away just when we had IIkmu fairly 
caught. lUit its a sample of what the • reglai-s" are made of. 
^hirceau and Lane would ca])ture the hull hihn' on 'em with 
a canoe ! 1 tell you its a fool expedition, this. " 

The men i»ai'te(l and did n;)t meet until the next forenoon. 
N'aughan and the two pilots stood u|.on the eiude hiva^t works 
and ])asse(l a s})yglass from eye to eye. 

Maiveau s|)oke lirst : ••Thet ihaiv's no dead j^ine. Dead 
l)ines don't travel hir, and that one"s opened a liand's width 
ttiid whats onusual its got a imde follying at prez-acklv th^i 



00 



WAltS AND i;i\M()j; 



same unit ! Its a conplo of topmasts a-looniin aloft the island, 
and we'll lu'v more celebratin' afore long. sir. " 

^'anghan motioned to MePherson, who took the glass but 
failed to verily the i)ilot's diseovery, which in no wise diseon- 
certed that worthy, who rather felt his sn})eriority over the 
ottieer. 

Lane took a long look and without removing the glass 
announced that there were " four dead pines walkin' up^tlie 
crick, now. " 

•lust then the l)o\vsprit of the iirst schooner, for there was 
no doubt al)out it now, pnshed out of a rocky cleft, and in a 
few moments the lately uesd up lleet was seen advancing to 
renew the coml»at. McPherson gaw his men a few words of 
encouragement and then instructed the gunner.s to hold their 
hre until the enemy attacked. The fleet was short one brig 
on this occasion, a fact which ^"anghan noted with some in- 
ward self-praise. Tlie schooners led the brig l)y gunshot dis- 
tance, and ai)proaching boldly to the steep bluiis set a couple 
of twelve-pounders to sounding taps at the clear sky above. 
The battery returned with a concerted volcano of hell-fire and 
shot which cut some of the running rigging, and some of the 
sails drooped. This evidently disconcerted the schooners for 
they immediately fell back to the protection of the larger guns 
of the brig. The slight l)reeze was dying out and after firing 
a few random shots the fleet retreated as it had on the night 
previous. 

No attemi)t was made to follow the enemy down the Kiv- 
er, and camj) at Wilkinson's Point was not broken initil three 
days later. The soldiers suffered IVom want of shoes and 
winlci' clothing, and besides everv man. of them had int^lU? 



Wars and rumors of wars. 91 

genec to foresee the disaster which subsequently befell the ex- 
pedition at Chrysler's Field. 

At the battle of Bartlett Point two Americans were killed 
and four were wounded. McPliei'son was promoted to a caj)- 
t<dncy, which office he had held by brevet, and ( ai)tain 
A^aughan was given command of the schooner Julia, whose 
successful cruising forms the subject of anotlier chajjter. 



THE STORY OF TOM GARNET. 

Ever since that period when man reared on his hind legs 
and walked, romance has been signally united with war. One 
of the most touching anecdotes of the second war with England 
is related of a hero of the Army of the North, as that arm on 
Lake Ontario and tlie St. Lawrence l)ordcr was designated. 

Tom Garnet was the son of an English farmer, living 
about forty miles from Liverpool. He chose a partner foi- life, 
and was sent not long after marriage with an ox cart laden 
with Avheat to Liverpool, to exchange foi lurnituiv and an out- 
fit, but was seized on the streets by a press gang, and d('sj)ite 
his entreaties and resistance, was taken on board a frigate, 
about to sail for the East Lidics, his cart and oxen reiuaiinng 
in the street, and himself unable to relieve anxieties at home 
l)y a single word of explanation. 

During seven long weary years, he was detained al)road , 
without an opportunity of exchanging letters with his family, 
or of knowing whether those most dear were dead oi- alive. At 
length, he was paid off and set on shore at Liver])ool. Sun- 
burnt by tropical heat, and haggai'd from hard service, he was 



92 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

SO changed that his l)est friends would liardly have known 
liini. He had carefidly saved his earnings, and having 
shunned the vices that sailors too often accjuire, he had with ' 
him a considerable sum, for a man of his station, with which 
he was fondly hoping to gladden the hearts of loved ones at 
home — if perchance they were still living. As night ap- 
proached, fearing to call at an inn, lest his dress and appear- 
ance should excite suspicion that he might be a deserter from 
the fleet, he crept into a nook under a stack of straw, and 
spent the night. In the morning, there was a dense fog, and 
not knowing the course he should take, he fell in with another 
press gang, and was again carried on board a vessel about to 
sail for the South American Coast. After some years, finding 
an oi)})ortunity, he escaped, crossed the Andes, and at length, 
reaching an Atlantic port, he enlisted for a few months in an 
American shi}), which soon brought him to tlie United States. 
His crew was detailed for service on Lake Ontario, and he 
arrived at Sackets Harbor in the fall of 1S12, and joined the 
crew of the brig Oneida under Lieutenant AVoolsey. During 
twenty years he had been unable to gain the first word from 
home. He was of a kind, clieerful and obliging dis])osition, 
was strictly tem])erate, used ]io profane laugiutge, and was 
made ca})tain of the forecastle, from the entire confidence that 
was placed in his (•a]);u'ity and fidelity. Li short, Tom Cnw- 
net was the universal faxorite of the l)rig, and l)oth officers 
and men l»ec;ime strongly attached to liim Ibr bis kindness of 
heart, intelligence and moral wortb. 

On the morning before tbe fleet of Commodore Chauncey 
sailed to ineet the enemy near Kingston, Tom relateil to bis 
comrades a ili-eam be bad tlie night before, in wliieb bis wife 
appeared to bim as ;i disembodied spirit in Ilea ven, wit li a, 
son, wboni be bad neyer seen, and lold Idni be wonid soon 



WARS AND KIMOKS OK WARS. 1)3 

join tlioni. His stoi-y wjis treated with levilv ; l.iit the cnlm 
and scrions oa.riicslne.ss with whiehi he related it, ;\nd tlic evi- 
dent eonvietion he had as to the premonition, elieeked hilarity. 
He proceeded to divi<le his v/ardrolx' anions his compainons, 
and gave instructions ahont the disposal of the little proici'ty 
he possessed, as one ahont to die ; ytt his cheerfnlness and 
alacrity were nnahated ; although he evidently helieved in tlu' 
l»resentinient he had exj^resscd, he seenud exhilai-atcd in the 
welcome prospect of meet in o- the longdost and dear j)ai'tner of 
early liopes. 

The fleet saik'd and engaged the enemy's l)atteries in the 
harhor of Kir.oston, the iirst shot from whicdi was a nint- 
])ound hall, whicdi crossed the deck of the Oneida, and jiasscd 
through the hody of Tom (larnet at his [)ost. He fell instant- 
ly dead, with the same nnile upon his countenance whieii 
haliit had impressed. 



KAULY sMr(i(;i.iN(;. 

A c()m})any of infantry, undei- ('aplain Hennel. an<l of 
twenty- three artillei'ymen, under Lieutenant Cross, were sta- 
ti()ne(l at Sackcts Iiarl)or in ISOS. and carlv in March, jsn'.i, 
two dctachmcnls of mihtia ( f(.i-(\--li\-c men 1, fi'oiii ( nlond Paid 
Sticknc\-'s r('uiincnl. wci'c drawn out, lwrnt\- ol' whom were 
slaliniicd on IIh' SI. Lawrence al (li'aveliv I'oint, now Cape 
N'incent, opposite Kingston, and the remainder at Antwerp on 
tile Oswegatchie i-oad, where sever;d I'ontes nniled. 'flie ( iii- 
hargo had the ell'ect of lowering the price of grain, hv inter- 
rupting the commeice hy whidi it was e.xpoi'ted, while frein 



94 WARS AND EUMOr.S CF WARS. 

the s:ime cause it enormously increased the price of potash, 
which all new woody countries produce, and which the eni- 
hargo prevented from reaching England, except indirectly by 
way of Canada. This afforded a temptation too strong for the 
honesty of great numbers, who, notwithstanding the vigilance 
of the revenue officers were very successful. This article rose 
to $300 to ^i320 per ton in Montreal, from whence it could be 
exported without obstruction to England ; and as there then 
existed in Canada no law against its importation into the 
country, the only difficulty to meet was an evasion or open 
defiance of our own laws. Potash was brouglit from the inte- 
rior counties, and even from New York to this frontier, and 
temporary roads were beaten through the forest in the winter 
time, by those engaged in this illegal traffic. Among these 
was the " embargo road, " from the Black River, near Brown- 
ville, to near French Creek, wdiich for a season became a great 
thoroughfare for smugglers. 

Previous to the calling out of the militia detachments 
above mentioned, Mr. Hart Ahissey had seized fifty-four bar- 
rels of pot and pearl ashes, and twenty barrels of pork near 
Cape Alncent, which property was openly rescued and carri(>d 
off by a force of fifty or sixty armed men, with many sleighs 
from Kingston. 

Under date of Ahirch 14, 1800, the collector at Sackets 
Harbor made the following complaint to the Treasury Depart- 
ment : 

Nature lias hirnished the smugglers with the firme^t ice 
that was ever known on this iVoiitier. There is scarcely a 
place from the Oswegntchie to Sandy Creek, a distance of 110 
Tailes, but that the ice is good. Sleighs pass at Sackets Har- 
bor ten miles from shore, and all the force I can raise is not 
sufficient to stop them. They appear determined to evade the 



WAES AND lUMOliS OF WAKS. 95 

laws at tlie risk of their lives. More i)arti('ularly at Oswe- 
oatchic, I am informed, tliey liavo entered into a combination 
not to entertain, nor even suffer any other force to he stationed 
in that vicinity, and theii- threats arc; lianded out. that if I, or 
any other olHcer sliould come there a<;ain. they will take a raw 
hide to tlieni, which they declare they havt> prepared for that 
]»urpose. These threats don't tt'ri'ify me. I only nn'ution 
them to let you know their unprincipled determination. The 
regular troops, and the inhabitants at that station, have a nui- 
tual understandino;. If the troops that are there, are not 
called away, it will be in vain to send any more, without 
sending enough to overpower them and the inhabitants. 

The nnlitia, stationed on the Oswegatchie, are thirty miles 
this way from the post, at the p)lace where the roads branch 
off to various parts of St. Lawrence County. [Antwerj).] The 
]KM)ple in the vicinity of their station are hostile and refuse to 
accommodate tliem with anything, even to admit them into 
their houses. They are in a suffering conditif.n, an<l the snow 
is three feet dc(>p. I shall go to their assistance soon, and fur- 
nish them with such things as they are in want of, to keep 
them from suffering. They are ])oorly armed, without l)lan- 
kcts or cooking utensils, or even without shelter, excejit hem- 
lock boughs, l)ut, notwithstanding their distressed situation, 
they stop the illicit trade on that roa<l. It is with ditliculty 
that T get any assistance for the conveyance of ])ro])erty to the 
pul)lic ston'. If T have not armed men with me. the inhabi- 
tants will assemble in the night and tike the pr<.perty I'mni 
me. There are some who wish to sui)poi-t the laws, but they 
ai'c so unpopulai- that tiny shrink li'om theii' (hitw Mv life 
and the lives of my deputies are t!ircateiie(| daily: what will 
be the fat(^ of us, Cod oidy knows. 

This open and bold d 'liance of lav.-s, was not enfirelv due 



90 WAES AND RrMOllS OP WARS. 

to a mercenary spirit, but to political rancor and a practical 
opposition to a law which they declared unconstitutional and 
void. An open defiance to the law was attempted at Oswego, 
in the summer of 1S08, it is said, in part, by citizens of Jeffer- 
son County, which was boldly planned but poorly executed. 

One morning about ten boats with sixty armed men, en- 
tered that harbor, and from an intimation that was given by 
one of their numl)er, it was learned tliat tlicy designed to for- 
cibly seize a quantity of fiour that liad l)een detained by the 
collector, Ur. Burt, or to use tlieir own language, " to clear out 
the place or burn it. " A message was at once sent to hasten 
on a company of dragoons at Onondaga, who arrived within 
half a dozen miles and encamped. Learning that the hour of 
11 p. m. was agreed upon for a " scrape, " the detachment was 
liastened forward, and arrived a few minutes before the signal 
was given. Hearing the music of the approaching company, 
tlie insolent marauders instantly fled to the woods, leaving 
their boats in charge of the collector. The great price to which 
ashes arose led for a short time to extensive clearings for this 
oljject as labor was far better rewarded in this, than in the or- 
dinary pursuits of husbandry. On the first of March, 1809, 
tlie (■nd)arg() gave place to a non-intercourse law, which ex- 
pired ill Ahiv, ISIO. On the fourth of April, 1812, an embar- 
go was again laid, whit-h rendered renewed vigilance neces- 
sary ; but this time a more efficient system of means was at 
hand. 

In May, 1812, the Lor<l Nelson, a British schooner, bound 
for Niagara, and laden with Hour and merehandise from 
Kingston, being found in American waters in the lake, was 
captured by WooLsey, brought into Sackets Harbor and con- 
deinned as a lawful prize. Among the goods taken and offered 
at auction was a quantity of plate, jewelry, wearing apparel 



WARS AND EUMORS OF WAl^S. 07 

and household articles of rich materials, helonoing- to a lad}^ 
of Qiiecnstowii, newly married, but not on board ; and these 
articles of great intrinsic value, were inestimably precious to 
tlie owner, as family relics and keepsakes. These, Commodore 
A\^wlsey, witji true courtesy, proposed to restore, and the sug- 
gestion was seconded by the hearty acchiniatioii of his gallant 
sailors, wlio otfereil to relin(piish their claiiii ; but oth.-rs. from 
sordid and illil)eral motives, insisted that the sale should go 
on, and undertook to compete in the l)ids, whiidi gi'adually 
arose to three, four and live hundi'cd dollars. At this moment, 
the gallant \\^)olsey, determined not to be l)afned in his (h'- 
sign, suddenly raised his bid to five thousand, which at once 
ended the contest, amid the cheers of his men, and to the dis- 
discomfit of his oi)ponents. The })ri)i)e;'ty, hi' ])rom})tly for- 
warded to the owner, and the governni'Mit sanctioned his 
course bv dischar<i,ing him from tlie o!)liuafion. 



THE W.\R Sf'ARK. 

War liaving l)een for years nntieipate(b was deelai-ed, .lune 
IS, 1S12, by a vote of 7!) to 41) in the house, and (.f l'.> to b". in 
the senate; Silas Stow then represented this district and \dte(l 
in the negative. The event was first announced in a K'tter 
from Governor Tompkins to l)rigadier-( Seneral .Jacob IJiown, 
of the militia, dated .Juiu' '2'.\, in which he was einpowerecl (o 
re-inforce Colonel Bellinger, with the militia of Lewis. .Jelfer- 
son and St. Lawrence counties, and to arm and equij) them at 
the state arsenals at Kussell and W'alertown, il' occasion iv- 
([uired. Colonel Benedict, (.f ])el\alb. S(. Lawrence County. 



08 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

was ordered to turn out immediately to guard the frontiers 
from Ogdensburg to St. Regis. In reply, General Brown urged 
the speedy forwarding of arms and munitions, and that a force 
should be posted at Cape Mncent and Ogdensburg, which 
could be concentrated at a few hours' notice, should decisive 
measures be necessary. This letter contained the following 
sentiments : 

" Your Excellency will bear in mind, that this is a very 
new country ; that the population is light, and generally poor, 
though very respectable for so new a country, and that, if any 
more men are called from their homes, the crops which now 
promise a very abundant harvest must perish on the ground. 
I mention this to your Excellency, as the county expects it at 
my hands, and much more than my feeble abilities can ac- 
com})lish ; but no considerations of this nature shall deter me 
for a moment from calling out every man in tlie county, if its 
defense requires it, though, for the present, I must hope that 
the force coming on, will render such a measures unnecessary. 
I pray God that our government will act with decision and 
energy which becomes a gallant })eo|)le. " 

On the first announcement of war, some families liastily 
prepared to leave the country, to whicli they were im})elled in 
part by fugitives of the same class from St. Lawrence County, 
and so terror stricken were some, that they hastily fled into 
the back settlements, spreading consternation on their way, 
and leaving their houses open to any who might choose to 
enter. But to the credit of tlie county the number of these 
timid ones was comparatively snudl, and several who had re- 
movc(l returned. The fear of Indian massacre, whit'h the 
memories of the I'evohition suggested, was in general the im- 
])elling cause, although they could scarcely define the source 
from whence those dreudcd marauders wouhl coiiu", or adduce 



WARS AND Kr>r()R8 OF WAIW. 09 

a consistent aruunn'nt to justity their a[i])i'cliciisi(iii. Al'tri' a 
time, confidence began to retnni, nnlil at length s;)inc settle r 
ventured to cross the river by niglit, to call n})on an ohl ac- 
quaintance. These visits gradually became more common, 
and by the time the wai- ended, old ac(iuaintancos had already 
been renewed ; the river was crossed !»y daylight, ami a-^ often 
as there was occasion — ind, in short, tliey fouml that although 
legally enemies, they weiv still tViends. 

The news of the war had scarcely reached this froiitiei-, 
when hostilities were begun in a small way, by Abner Hub- 
bard, a revolutionary S')l(lier, wlio, without authority, and 
with only the aid of a man and a b )y, made ;i descent upon 
Fort Carleton, near Cape Vincent, and. without firing a gun, 
took the garrison, consisting of three invalid mtai and two wo- 
men, prisoners. Tlie next day a boat was sent to the island 
for the stores, and the buildings were aftei'wards l)uiaied. This 
proceeding being known at Kingston, an attemjit was made to 
detain a citizen from Brownville, who was in town on com- 
mercial business, Init being foi'cwarned liy a friend heest-aj)ed. 
On the 29th of April, a fleet of trading vesscds, that had been 
caught at Ogdensburg, and were aftenipling to asctaid the 
river to the lake, were pursued l)y a jiarty of ])i'ovineial mili- 
tia. Two of the vessels, the Sophia and Island backet, wei't' 
burned near Morristown, and the remainder reluiaied in great 
confusion to Ogdenslmrg, where they ca-eafetl the greatest 
alarm. On the seeon.l of .bdy, the scouts of C.aieral T.rown 
brought in a man, found Ix'tween Indian Kiver and the Si. 
Lawrence, who was taken fbr a spy, but proved to bean Anua'- 
ican and confirmed the aeeounf of the buiaiing of die vessel^, 
stating that there wi re about thirty pea'soiis ahoaid. mostly 
families m:)\ing; and that the most of their elfeets were 
burn-d. It wa;; appreheiid-d thai the (>nemy were about to 



^"*^ Wars and rumors oi^ wars. 

fortify the islands, and thus command the river. A few days 
before the news of war was received, a large quantity of small 
arms was forwarded hy the governor to this frontier, consisting 
ot two thousand muskets, and a corresponding quantity of 
munitions, which were mostly scMit on t<. the Russell Arsenal, 
111 St. Lawrence county, esccrted hy tlie detachment from 
Lew:s County. A considerable body of militia fi-om Jefferson 
County, was assembled at Ca]^e A^incent, together with a por- 
tion of the force of Colonel Bellinger, as it was considered ad- 
visable to keep Kingston in as great a state of alarm as possi- 
ble. At this point was the great naval station of the enemy, 
where fbr one or two years armed vessels had ],een building, 
and from whence alone an attack couhl be reasonably ex- 
l)ected. It was apprehende.l that an attempt would be made 
by the I^ritish, to destroy or take our vessels at Ogdensburg, 
and tli^e Oneida, Lord Nelson, and other vessels at Sackets Har- 
bor. To 1)0 in rea.liness for any attack, the governor was im- 
])ortuned to forward cannon from the state arsenals, and the 
a-'siii^aiiee was given that a good account would l)e rendered 
of tlieemauy, .should they attempt any expedition to our 
shores. Oh the fftli of July a rumor was spread that Lieu- 
tenant Woolscy, with the l)rig Oneida, had been taken by the 
enemy, which l)rought ( Jenei-al lirown to tlie Harbor, but the 
report proved groundless. There had arrived two brass nine- 
pounders, but no nine-pound shot. 



FIRST liATTLK AT SACKKTS JlAKIiOR. 

On Sunday, the 19tli of July, 1S12, ( aptain Woolsoy, of 
the (Jneida, discovered from tlie mast lioad of his l)iio-, five 
sail of the enemy beating uj) the harljor, viz: the Koyal 
George, 24 guns ; the Seneca, 18 ; Prince Regent, 22 : Earl of 
Aloira, 20 ; and Simcoe. The Oneida attempted to gain the 
lake, hut failing, returned, and was moored outside (.f the 
point, where the ship house stuod, with one hroadside of 
nine guns to the enemy, while the others were taken out and 
hastily j)laced on a ])reast\voi'k on the shore, near which, on 
the day }>revious, a ;>2-pounder (intended for the (ineida. hut 
found too heavy) had been mounted on a pivot, upon a mound 
about six feet high. Alarm guns were liivd, and expresses 
sent to call in the neighl)oriiig militia, who did not. however, 
arrive in time t(j render assistance, but who, in the course of 
the day, came in to the number of o,0()(). Thi' Ih'itish had, 
early in the morning, ca])tured a boat laden witli Hour IVoiii 
Ca})e \^incent, and the crew was set on shore, and sent with 
the message " that all they wanted was the bi'ig ()nei(la. and 
the Lord Nelson (a vessel t.uken a little before ioi- a violation 
of the revenue), ami that they would bum the village if there 
was a single shot fired at them. " 

The enemy liad been misinlbrmeil about the defenses of 
the |)lace, and especially ol' the .■!2-})ounder, and sujiposcd there 
was nothing to be feared in the way of ordnance. The force 
at that time in town was, besides the crew of the Oneida, the 
regiment of Colonel Bellinger, a volunteer company of artil- 
lery under Captain Cami), and a few militia. Cajdain AV'ool- 



102 WARS AND ]UMf)i;S OF WARS. 

scv, leaving bis brig in cbarge of a lieutenant, took tbo general 
coinniand on sbore, tbe 32-poun(;ler being in cbarge of Mr. 
A\^illiani A'angban, sailing master, and tbe otber guns under 
tbat of Captain Cain}). Tbere were no sbot in town larger 
tlian 24-])ound balls, wbieb wei'e used (witli tbe aid of jiatches 
formed of earpets), in tbe ;')2-])ounder. 

By tlie time tbese arrangements were made, tlie enemy 
b;;d arrived witbin gun shot, nearly in front of tbe battery, 
wben tbe aetion was begun, tbe first sbot being from tbe 32- 
pounder on tbe mound ; upon wbieli a sbout of laughter was 
beard from tbe fleet, at tbe supposed imbeeile attempt at re- 
sistanee. Tbe fire was returned l)riskly, and eontinued for 
two hours, all of tbe enemy's balls but one or two, falling 
against tbe rocks at tbe foot of tlie bluff, where our force was 
stationed. One ball fell near by, and })lowed up the ground 
for some distance. It was caught U{» just wben it bad sj)ent 
its force, l)y a man who came ruiniing in and shouting that be 
had ''caught tbem out ; " and so it proved, for froiii its com- 
manding position, it was seen tlu.t our big Lun li;;d every 
advantage, and that several (.fits shots told with eflect. 

Towards the close of tbe action, as tbe I\oyal (ieorge, the 
flagship, was wearing to give anotbcr broadside, a 24-pound 
sbot sti-uck her stern, ri.d raked her whole lengtb, killing 
eight men, and doir.g mucb damage. r})on this the signal ot 
retreat was given, and tbe whole fleet l)ore away for Kingston 
witliont ceremony. At tbis, the band on sbore sti'urk uj) tbe 
national tnne of Yaid<ee Doodle, and tbe trooj.s. wbo bad 
tbrongb tbe whole affair behaved like veterans, sent up tliree 
cbeers of victory. Tbe sbots from oni' battery bad broken 
their eliesis of medicines, ibeir loic l()])-gallant mast, and tbeir 
vess'ls in a dozen places, while tbe enemy l.roke notbing but 
— l!ie Sabbatb. In a letter to (be govc'.'ner of Julv 2-ltb, (len- 



Wars axd iir.Moits of wars. lOo 

eral Brown attributed the success of tlie day to tlie gallant 
spirit of Woolsey, Bellinger and ('ami), in their respective 
capacities, and especially to the nice shots of the 32-pounder. 
Mr. A'aughan, who })ointed and Hred tliis piece, elaiiiied 
the honor of having fired the hrst hostih' gun in the war. 
One of the men at this gun, named Julius Torry, a negro, 
better kr.ovn as Black Julius, and a great favorite in the 
camp, served at his })jst with remarkable activity and cour- 
age. As there was no opportunity for the use of small arms, 
the greater part of the troops who were drawn up, were passive 
spectators of the engagement. 



CAPTURE OF OAXAXOQUK. 

On the night of the 2()th of Sei)tembei', <;n exi)cdition 
was dispatclied from Sachets nari)or, whieli is thus desei-ibed 
by General Brown, in his report to the gov<'riior: 

At a time when my force was the lightest, and a veiT 
considerable alarm })revailed for the s;if(^ty of that })ort, I fitted 
out a secret expedition under tlie eommaml of that excellent 
otlieer. Captain Forsyth, against (Iaiianoi|ui, a smaH British 
l)Ost, twenty miles below Kingston, with the view of capturing 
some of the enemy's ammunition, of which we were and iwv 
gi'catly in want, and of ahirming them as much as possible 
for their own safety. JNIy order was executed by Oaptain 
Forsyth, as became an officer and a soldier, and Captain Mc- 
Nitt and Lit'utenant Brown and i'hisigns Hawkins and John- 
son, of the nnlitia, who volunteered on the expeilition, ari' re- 
ported to me by Captain Forsyth as deserving the highest 



104 WAKS AND RUMOES OF WAItS. 

praise for tlioir cool, intrepid valor and good condut't. There 
was not a man but did his duty. Captain Forsytli landed in 
open day, two miles above the village; his whole force 
amounting to ninety-tive. At three-quarters of a mile he met 
two horsemen, one of whom was probably shot, the other fled 
to the village, where Captain Forsyth found on his arrival the 
enemy drawn up in order of battle, 110 strong, and upon his 
approach they commenced a heavy fire upon him, but over. He 
rushed immediately on, without firing, until within 100 yards, 
when his party made a few deliberate shots, then ru'shed on, 
and l)roke the enemy, drove them across a bridge, which, for 
his better security. Captain Forsyth broke u]). He had one 
man killed and one wounded. The loss of the enemy, in 
killed. Captain Forsyth has declined stating, but from the best 
information I can collect from the party, it was from ten to 
fifteen. Twelve prisoners were taken, 3,000 l)all cartridges 
and 41 luuskets. There were in the king's store about 150 
barrels of ])rovisions, and as there were no boats 1o bring it 
away it was consumed by fire, together with the store. Pi'ivate 
]>ruperty Avas held sacred. To the soldiers on this expedition, 
I have ])resented the public pi-opei1y t;iken, as a reward for 
their valor and goixl conduct. I wish your excellency to ap- 
probate or disapprobate tliis my donation to these brave men. 
V.»ur (>xcellencv must bear in mind, that with my very little 
brigade, or at best a i)art of that at Oswego, I liave been put 
npon the defense of this northern frontier, h'om St. iJegis to 
near Oswego. The men that 1 Iiave the honor to command, 
have (lone and sulfered much for the militia ; their clothes 
genei'ally were in tatters and they are poor men. They can 
not chiihe tlieniselves in this region l\>v !;?(;. (iO per month, and 
it is not in human nature that these men can endni'c a wniler 
camj)aign in this climal(> thus clad. 1 can not bcrKve that 



WAKS AND lUMOKS OF WARS. 105 

these men would leave me; it would ,ii,i'ieve nie if tlie\' should : 
but it is a staiu upon our ]i;Uii)nal eharactei', tlial the eiti/.eii 
soldier of this eountry should be worse paid and provided for, 
tlian anv other elass aniono- us. 



REDOUBTABLE KIN(iST()X. 

Connnodore (diauneey having taken a station near tlu 
False Ducks fell in witli the Royal George, 26 guns, and 
chased her into the bay of (^uinte, where she was lost in tlic 
night. On the morrnng of tlie Kith, he took a siu;dl st-hooncr, 
wliich lie burned, having got sigld of the IJoyal (Icorgc which 
he followed into Kingston liar1)oi' and engaged her and the 
batteries an hour and forty-tive minutes, l)ut hn(bng these 
stronger than antieiiiated, night eondng on nr.d a gale of \vin<l 
blowing in, he stood off and anchored. In the morning the 
wind continued so strong in shore that he thought it inij)ru- 
dent to hazard an attack, and l)eat out and soon fell in with 
the Simcoe, and chased lier over a reel' of rocks, but so dis- 
abled her with shot, that she sank l)ef)iv getting idongsi.le of 
tlu' dock. 

On the moridng of the lOth, he took ;i lai'ge schooner 
IVom Niagara bound in, and the ne.xt morning sent down tln^ 
p|-i/.e undei- convo\df th<' (li'owler, past Kingston, to imhice 
tlie ship to tbllow, but without success. The night of the 1 1th 
was boistenar^; on the bJth was a severe snow storm, ;iii<l on 
the 14th it continued to snow f;ist. but little wiihl. The n- 
mainder of this ci'uise we giv<' in the hmguage ot ' 'onnnodore 
Chauncey, in a letter to the goveiMior : 

<'Tlie (Irowler s/ut the prize in, and stood in for the 



lOG WAKS AND HUMORS OF WARS. 

Ducks, where ho had orders to join me. Near the Ducks, he 
iell in with the Earl of Moira, convoyino; the sloop Elizabeth 
from York to Kingston. Sailing JNIa.ster Mix, who commanded 
the Growler, run down in a very gallant manner and took 
possession of the p]lizabeth within two miles of the ship, and 
l)r;»ught her in. I inmiediately weighed and stood for Kings- 
ton in hopes to cut her off, but the elements were against me 
again, lor I scarcely had left the harbor before it blew a gale 
of wind, and snowed so thick that we frequently could not see 
a mile. We, however, persevered to the great danget of the 
vessels and lives of the crews. On the 14th we got sight of 
the Earl of Moira entering Kingston harbor, but it blowing a 
gale of wind, we concluded not to follow, and after beating 
about almost all that day, I made the signal for all the squad- 
ron to bear for this })lace, where we arrived on the same even- 
ing. During these two short cruises we captured three vessels, 
two have arrived, one we burned, a fourth was so injured that 
she sunk, and we learn from one wlio came in the Hags yes- 
torday, that the Royal George was so much injured that she 
had to haul on shore to keep from sinking, having received 
several shots between wind and weather, several guns disaljlcd, 
and a number of pei'sons killed or wounded, besides consider- 
al)le injury (thougli not intentional) to the town. Amongst 
ihc prisoners is Captain Drock of tlie 29th regiment, and a 
relative of the late Oenei'al JU'ock, who was returning from 
York with part of the baggage of his deceased friend. Our 
loss was trilling ; one man killed and four wounded, (wo of the 
latter by the bursting of a gun on board of tlie Pert, the com- 
mander of which vessel, Mr. Arundell, was knocked overboard 
and drowned. The damage done to the rigging and sails not 
nmeh, and a few shots in the hulls of one of the vessels, but 
the injury from which was soon I'epaired. The Gov. Tomp- 



WAKS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 107 

kins, Ilaniiltoii, Conquest and Growler are now blockading 
tlie vessels in Kingston. I am now taking on board guns and 
stores for Niagara, for wbich place I sliall sail the first wind, 
in company with the Julia, Pert, Fair American, Ontario and 
St-ourge, and I am in great hopes that I shall fall in with the 
Prince Regent, or some of the royal family which are cruising 
about York. Had we been one month sooner we could have 
taken every town on this lake in three weeks, but the season 
is now so tempestuous that I am apprehensive we can not do 
nnich more this winter. I am however, ready to co-operate 
with the army, and our officers and men are anxious to be 
engaged. " 

Tliis brilliant maneuver conferred great credit upon those 
engaged, and called public attention to the operations on this 
frontier, as likely to aftbrd a tlieater for deeds of valor, that 
would confer honor upon the American name. The spirited 
engagement in Kingston harbor has been compared, by 
C'ooj)er, to the assault upon Tripoli, in our previous war with 
the Barbary States, to which it was not in the least inferior, 
due allowance being made for the com})arative force employed. 
The fact of the Royal George, which was by much the largest 
vessel that had tlien been built on our iidand waters, i-etiring 
bef )re the Oneida, has been ascribed, by Cooper, to her not 
being properly officered. The P)ritish had not then made 
tiuir drafts upon the royal navy for the service of the lakes. 

The bones of the Oneida lie in the French Creek Bay in 
sight of one of her conquests. The [)eo[)le of Clayton shouM 
be patriotic enough to see that what is left of her slioul<l be 
suitably preserved just as the government has alrcndy taken 
stei)s to preserve the Constitution innnoiiaH/.cd in the j)oeni as 
" Old Ironsides." 



SECOND BATTLE AT SACKETS HARBOR. 

The descent upon York provoked the resentment of the 
enemy, who, knowing that Sackets Harbor had been weak- 
ened by the withdrawal of troops to the Niagara, planned an 
attack upon the former, well knowing that the capture or 
destruction of the vessels there building, and the 'stores col- 
lected, would at once give them the su})remacy in the cam- 
paign, and effectually suppress any further offensive operations 
of the Americans for some time. 

Sackets Harbor was at this time but poorly prepared for 
defense. Fort Tompkins, occupying the site of the present 
residence of the commanding officer of the station, was manned 
by about two hundred dismounted dragoons, under C'olonel 
Backus, a detachment of forty or fifty artillerists, under Lieu- 
tenant Ketchum, and seventy or eighty infantry invalids, re- 
cruits and parts of companies. A little east of the village was 
Fort Volunteer, a slight work that had been chiefly erected by 
a company of exempts. General Dearborn had written to 
Brigadier-General Brown, to assume the command and make 
provisions for a defense, which letter was not answered from 
motives of delicacy toward Colonel Backus, but preparations 
were made for resistence, if required. 

Between the village and Horse Island, a mile distant, was 
a thin wood that had been partly cut over, and wasfiUed witli 
brush, logs and stumps. Opposite the ishmd was a clearing 
of about four acres, and the island itself, which embraces 
twenty-nine acres, and lies at the entrance of the l)ay, was 
covered with a growth of timber, and at that time connected 



WARS AND KIMOKS OF WARS. 100 

witli tlic iiiaiii land by a bai' that atloi'dcd a ci'dssiiin-, nearly 
()!• (|uite dry. Tlic beach opposite was composed, then as now, 
of a ridoe of gravel, whicii at that time made a natural breast- 
work, four or five feet high. A short distance back and fur- 
ther south on the shore, a strij) of woods extended, which had 
been ol»structed as much as possible several days i)revious, Ijy 
felling trees in every direction. 

The enemy having made pre})arations at Kingston for an 
attack, embarked 1,200 men, under Sir George Prevost, on the 
evening of May 27th, on board the ships Wolfe, a new vessel 
of 24 guns ; the Royal (Jeoi-ge, 24 guns; the brig Karl of 
Ah)ira, bS guns ; and the schooners Prince Regent, Simcoe 
and Seneca, mounting each several guns ; two gun boats, and 
about forty barges under Sir James L. Yeo ; and on the fol- 
lowing morning (Friday, May 28th) appeared in the offing, 
having ben discovered by the schooner Lady of the Lake, 
that had lieen cruising on the lake to watch the motions of 
the enemy. 

.\s liiis vessel came in, signal guns were iii'cd, and upon 
lierari'ival Colonel Rackus disj.atched an exi)ress to (ieneral 
Rrown, who, since the expiration of his six months' term, had 
l)('en residing on his farm in Brownville, eight miles from the 
hiirbor. He immediately rei)aired to that place, and issued 
summary orders for rallying the neighboring militia, and j»re- 
]);iring the place for defense. Alarm guns were fired and 
dragoons dispatched in every direction to hasten the arrival of 
succor, and especially that of Coloncd Tuttle, wiio was known 
to be advancing with several hundred regulars. No landing 
w.is attempted l)y the enemy on tlie2Sth, th(>ir attention being 
dfMwn oil' by a lleet of .\mericaii bai-vs from Oswego, of 
which twelve weiv taken, their crews having lied to the woods, 
and seven, by outsailing the enemy got safely into ['ort, tlius 



110 WARS AND RUMORS OP WARS. 

increasing the disposable force of General Brown. These re- 
cruits proved to be a part of a regiment of infantry under 
Colonel Aspinvvall, on his way by water from Oswego to Sack- 
cts Harbor, who did not discover the enemy until hi' was 
doubling 8ix Town Point. As the route of those that landed 
was very circuitous, they did not arrive until nine o'eloek in 
the evening. 

The militia soon began to assemble, and as fast as tliey 
arrived they were armed and sent to Horse Island, which was 
the point at which the enemy was expected to land. '.1 he inim- 
l)er that came in during the day was about GOO, fresh from 
their homes, and without disci})line, experience or organiza- 
tion, and although not wanting in patriotism or courage, yet 
lacked that assurance which an acquaintance with military 
affairs can alone confer. These, witli about 300 regulars and 
100 of Aspinwall's party fatigued with their day's maich, 
comprised tlie force by which the enemy were to be oi)posed. 

The night was spent by General Brown in nniking dipo- 
sitions for the attack which circumstances rendei-ed highly 
probable would be made where the militia had been posted. 
The shore for most of the way between this place and the vil- 
lage is an abrupt precipice, fifteen or twenty feet hii h ; nnd 
the fleet to land above the village, must have to pass tlie bat- 
teries on shore and would require a favorable wind. 1 uring 
the night the enemy landed about forty Indians undei- 1 ieu- 
tenant Anderson on the main land in Henderson hay witli the 
view of attacking the rear of the militia, and tow.ii'ds morning 
the militia were witlidrawn IVoin the island to the shoi'e oppo- 
site. Camp fires had been built along the sliore early in the 
evening, but these wei'e oi-dered to be j»ut out. 

About 400 militia with a six-pounder, ur.der Colonel 
Mills, of the Albany volunteers, were stationed near the shore 



WARS AXI) lUMOKS OF WAKS. Ill 

opposite the isljiiid witli orders to reserve tlieir lire until tlie 
enemy should appi'oaeli within ]»istol shot. The remainder 
of the militia under Colonel (iershom Tuttle. were |)osted in 
the edo-e of the woods hack of the elearin.u', and Colonel P,aek- 
us with his dismounted dra<ioons was stationed in the skirt of 
the woods near t!ie villai;e with orders to advance tlii-ouuh the 
woods towards Horse 'sland the moment it was known that 
the enemy had landed. Colonel Aspinwall with his men was 
posted to the left of Backus, and the artillerists under Lieuten- 
ant Ketehum were stationed in Fort Tompkins, with no other 
than a 3'2-pounder mounted on a pivot. Tlie militia on the 
shore were directed that, in ease of l)eing driven from their 
l)osition. they should fall hack into the woods and annoy the 
riulit ilank of the enemy as he advanced towards the town. 
Colonel Tuttle was directed in the same event to attack their 
re.ir and destroy their hoats. The night was spent in making 
these arrangements and all ])arties anxiously awaitdl the ap- 
j)roach of day. 

The morning of the 'JHtli (lawne<l heantifuUy cleai' and 
calm. Not a l.reath of air i-uf!led the placid surface .,f the 
lake, and there existed that peculiai' state of density and uni- 
foi-mity in the atmosphere, in which sounds ai'e ])ropagate<l to 
a great distance, as is sometimes notie<Ml hefore a storm ; and 
the I'epoi-t of small ai'Mis in the action whieii followed, w;:s 
he.;i-d with I'emarkahlc distini tness on the lulls in Jutland: 
while the dischaige of cannon echoed clear and far over the 
country, to (hstances since \niparalleled, and was lieai-d 
t'u-ongh Lewis and even in Oneida County. This verv natu- 
rally .■xcited throughout the countiw the greatest anxit'ly and 
alarm and the solicitude of fandlies foi' tli.' fate of fatlieis. hus- 
l)audsand sons, who had h(MMi hastily sumiiiuned from home, 



112 WARS AND RUMORB OF WARS. 

was such as could scarcely endure the suspense which it occa- 
sioned. 

The calm prevented the enemy from ])riniiino- their ves- 
sels to co-operate in the attack, and was one of the causes that 
influenced their subsequent retreat. As soon as it was li.iiht, 
the enemy was seen approacliing- in thirty-three lari^e boats 
under cover of gunboats, directing their course to the outside 
of the island, where they landed and formed without oj)])()si- 
tion ; but in crossing the bar that connected it with the main 
land they encountered a galling fire and lost several in kill<'d 
and wounded, which they subsequently carried oh. As the 
landing was being effected, the heavy gun in Fort Tompkins 
was brought to bear with considerable effect upon the enemy's 
column. 

The fire of the militia was at first well directed and dead- 
ly and was answered by discharges of musketry and by two 
small cannon loaded with grape shot ; but Colonel Mills, who 
was stationed a short distance towards the village with his can- 
non fell early in the engagement, and his death, witli the un- 
accustomed whistling of balls that cut down the bi'anehes of 
the trees around them, struck with terror the inexpei-ieiuud 
militia and without waiting to return the fire or recover from 
the panic, they turned and fled towards the town in the great- 
est confusion. This retreat was not entirely general Captain 
Samuel McNitt, who had been stationed with his eomj)any on 
the extreme left of the flanking party of the militia, not notic- 
ing the movements of his comrades, continued his firing after 
some moments longer, and before he was aware he found him- 
self and his party alone and in danger of being cut off by the 
enemy. General Brown finding himself nearly alone with no 
support but thiscom{)any, retired towards the village, dii'ecting 
those that could l)e rallied to annoy the advancing coluiun of 



WAKS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 113 

the enemy as much as possible. The enemy, having gained 
the beach and dispersed the militia, formed in good order and 
marched towards the town. 

I'hey were soon met l)y the troops of Colonel Backus, who 
had advanced to dispute their progress and who gallantly en- 
countered and returned tlieir fire, retiring slowly before them 
through the half cleared woods. General Brown had succeeded 
in rallying aljout a hundred militia with the aid (if Caleb 
Westcott, a citizen, and others, and liad joined the detachment 
of Backus ; but at tliis juncture, happening to look towards the 
slii{)yard, he was surprised to see huge volumes of smoke issu- 
ing from the storehouses that contained the spoils of York. 
Not knowing but that the enemy might have gained his rear, 
he hastened to the spot and ascertained that the disastrous 
panic of the militia had been communicated to those in charge 
and a rei)ort had reached Lieutenant Chauncey of the navy 
that all was lost, and upon the faith of this rumoi- lie had given 
orders to hre the buildings, an act which the most extreme 
and desperate issue of affairs could alone justif}-. Learning 
tlie cause of the conflagration and somewhat relieved by the 
knowledge that the enemy were still but on one side, he re- 
turned, giving directions to Lieutenant Ketchuin in I"\)rCronip- 
kinstoiiold that i)Ost as long as the flames would i»t'rmit. 
The regulars of Colonel Backus felt their eourage renewed 
upon learning the nature of the accident that had given a 
natural alarm, and continued steadily to oi)pose the advance 
of the enemy who liad now gained the clearing next the vil- 
lage. \'ery soon after Colonel liackus fell mortally wounded 
and was borne off the Held ; his ti-ooi)s taking possession ol 
some log barracks and continuing their resistance. 

The enemy had throughout evinced great courage and 
coolness and were under the immediate command of Captain 



114 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

Gray, of the quartermaster-general's department, wlio was ad- 
vancing in front of the ranks and walking backwards waving 
his sword for his troops to follow, and shouting, " Come on, 
boys ; the day is ours ! Remember York ! " when he sudden- 
ly fell wounded and immediately expired. 

At this moment the signal for retreat was given from the 
fleet and the enemy hastily retreated to their boats. This re- 
treat is said to have been in part caused by hearing a report 
of small arms on the right from the rallied militia, but which 
the enemy mistook for a reinforcement of 450 regulars which 
they had learned was advancing under Colonel Tuttle, and 
was then within a mile of the place. Their arrival would at 
once put an end to the contest by giving us the advantage of 
numbers. The enemy on their retreat removed a part of their 
wounded, and having re-embarked, they at about 10 o'clock 
sent a flag demanding a surrender of the place which they had 
been unable to capture and were of course refused. Tliey, 
however, were promised that decent attention should l)e i)aid 
to the dead and humane treatment to the wounded. They 
shortly after sent another flag requesting to send surgeons to 
their wounded, which w^as denied, as they still seemed not to 
have abandoned the attack and were laying by in their barges, 
but shortly after they put off to the fleet which lay aluuit five 
miles from the town, and made sail for Kingston. l)Oth Sir 
George Prevost and Sir James Yeo are said to have landed 
during the engagement. 

The loss of the British was 150 in killed and wounded ; 
25 of their privates were found dead, 2 cajjtains and 20 pri- 
vates were wounded and including the wounded, 2 cai)tains, 1 
ensign and 32 privates were taken prisoners. Our loss was 
150 killed, wounded and missing. The enemv took a few 



WARS AND Rr>rORS OF WARS. 115 

prisoners and one man was found kilhMl and scalped in llic 
woods by the Indians. 

The fiann's of the burning stores were suliducd as(niickly 
as possible, but not till they had eonsunuMl half a mi 11 ion of 
dollars' worth of property. The shij) Pik(>, then on tlic stocks, 
was saved. The prize schooner, Ihe Duke of (ilouccstcr. was 
saved by Lieutenant Talman, of Ihc army, who boarded it. ex- 
tinguishing the fire and brought her from under the flames of 
the store houses. This heroic conduct will l)e appreciated 
when it is known that a large quantity of gunpowder was on 
board. Tne schooners Fair American and Pert, cut their 
cables and retreated up the river and several of the guns on 
Navy Point were spiked. Had it not been for this disastrous 
mistake our success would have been complete. Colonel IJack- 
us survived eight days and liopes of his recovery wei-e enter- 
tained, but blood-poison supervened. 



rRIVATEERIN( 



On the 14th of July, 1813, the Neptune and Fox. the for- 
mer a private armeil boat under Cajitain Saniml Hixon, 
mounted with one six-pounder and one swivel, and niainni! 
by twenty-four volunteers, and the latter a pul)lic arme(l l.oiit 
under Captain Dimock, with a detachnient of twenty-one men 
from the 21st regiment of infantry under l.ientenants l')iirbaid< 
aiui Perry, sailed from Sackets liarb-.r with hett.'is of Mni'tpie 
from the deputy collector of the district for a wui-r (.n (he St. 
Lawrence. This privateering expedition was litted out by 
M. W. Gilbert and others and had foi' its object the cutting off 



^16 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

ofa detachment of the enemy's boats that were expected up 
the river laden with stores. After touching at Cape Vincent 
and French C^reek, they selected on the morning of the 17th a 
quiet nook in a creek among the Thousand Islands, where 
they landed for nuister and review ; and the morning being 
I.articularly pleasant, they employed themselves in drying and 
putting in complete order their arms and ammunition and 
cleaning out their boats, while a small boat of each was sent 
out for intelligence, which returned without gaining any 
news. At 9 p. m. they hauled from the shore, manned a 
guard boat to prevent surprise, and sent Lieutenant Hawkins 
to Ugdensburg for intelligence : and at 5 p. m. Messrs. Baldwin 
and Campbell arrived with news. At 9 they left Cranberry 
Creek and at 4 a. m. of the 18th saw a brigade of British 
bateaux convoyed by his majesty's gunboat, the Spitfire, lying 
at Si.umond's Landing, preparing to sail for Kingston. Upon 
this, they pushed in for shore and so completely surprised 
them that very few of the enemy escaped. The fifteen bateaux 
and the gunboat were at once seized without a shot being 
fired on either side. Previous to the attack Lieutenant Perry, 
of^the 9th, and Sergeant James, of Forsyth's company, with 
27 volunteers were landed in Cranberry Creek in Alexandria, 
and at 11 sixty-nine prisoners were sent off to the harbor 
under guard of 15 men of the 21st in charge of Lieutenant 
Burbank. The Spitfire was armed with a 12-pound carronade 
and 14 men with a large quantity of military stores. The 
bateaux had 27() barrels of i)ork and 270 bags of pilot bread 
which was landed on the 20th to prevent spoiling, and a re- 
quest to the neighboring inhabitants for assistance was sent 
out, which brought in a few militia, who, however, mostly 
left the same night. At sunrise on the 21st the enemy to the 
number of 250, with four gunboats and one or two transports, 



WARS A>rD KlTMORS OF WARS. Il7 

were discovered in the creek ; these were met by thirty men 
and attacked while landing, twenty more being stationed in 
different places to i)revent their ai)pr(>aeh. A cannonade com- 
menced and was kept np some tiim^ ; two of the cnt'iny's l)oats 
were so injnred from onr tire that most of tlieii' crews were 
compelled to leave them and to cut flags from the slioi-e to 
stop the holes. At (> a. m. the enemy retiied to their boats 
and sent a flag with the demand of surrender to save the effu- 
sion of blood, which was instantly rejected and tlie firing re- 
commenced. It appeared that this was hut an e\j>edient to 
gain time, as the enemy hastily retreated carrying tlieii' dead 
and wounded. Their loss nuist have been c(»nsider;ible from 
the quantity of blood seen where they embarked. ( )ur loss 
was three killed and wounded. After the action trees were 
felled across the road and creek to prevent a new attack, and 
on the afternoon of the next day reniforcements arrive<l, tlie 
boats which had been scuttled were repaired and on tlie 'I'M 
they left for Sackets Harbor, where they ai'rived on the 'jyth. 
While pas.sing Tibbet's Point they encountered the ivirl of 
Moira, were pursued and hit several times by her shot, hut 
not captured. The gunboat and several l)at(>aux were sunk 
without consulting Captains Dimick or Dixon and tlic owners 
nltimately lost most that was gained by the expedition. 



The ai-maments of the small vessels were abandoned eai-ly 
in the season and they were used mostly as transports. On the 
hrst of :\hiy the frigate Superior (()() guns), built in eighty 



lis WAES AND RTJMORS OF WARS. 

days, was launched, and the day after there occurred an inci- 
dent which well nigh led to serious consec|uences. The ship 
carpenters and sailors having no interests in common with the 
soldiers had acquired a feeling of mutual hostility, and on this 
occasion there had been an unusual degree of convivial excess 
in celebrating the launch. A dragoon, being assaulted by tM^o 
or three carpenters, fled for [irotection to a sentinel placed 
over a storehouse, and with tlie oljstinacy and insolence of 
half drunken men, they were persisting in the pursuit in 
which one of their number was shot and the remainder fled. 
This at once led to the most intense excitement. The ship 
carpenters with axes and adzes hastily rallied with the sailors 
armed with boarding pikes and cutlasses, who, forming in a 
solid body, marched in pursuit of the sentinel. The troops 
were hastily formed in a hollow square around him and drawn 
up in the street, where they stood prepared to repel any at- 
tack, and the former had advanced to within a few yards and 
were yelling and brandishing their weapons in the wildest 
frenzy of rage, when Eckford, Chauncey and Brown hastened 
to the spot, threw themselves between the parties, and by a 
well-timed and judicious appeal checked the advance and soon 
persuaded the carpenters to desist on the assurance that the 
sentinel should be impartially tried and suital)ly punished if 
convicted. He was taken to W^atertown, an examination held 
and he was sent to a distant station to be out of their reach. 

The Mohawk and .loiies were still on the stocks, tlie arma- 
ment (if whicli, as well as tliat of tlic Superior, must be trans- 
ported through Wood Creek and ( )swego river, as the roads 
through tlie lUack Iviver valley wei"(^ nearly im])assa.ble with 
nnid. This the enemy well knew and were also intormcMl that 
the rigging and armament of these vessels was on its way to 
Oswego. To possess these supplies would be equivalent to the 



WARS AND RU.\[ORS OF WARS. 119 

(Icstraction of our S(|iiadr()n, as willioiit IIk'Hi the new sliips 
could not a})pear on the lake, nor could the Ik'et of the pre- 
vious year venture out in the })resenee of the greatly increased 
naval armament of the enemy with the slightest hopes of suc- 
cess. This descent upon Oswego was therefore planneil with 
great foresight and had its execution been as successful as its 
conception was bold and masterly, the beam of fortuni^ must 
have preponderated with tlie British and the resuhs of this 
campaign might have l)een as disasti'ous as those of the i)re- 
vious year had been disgraceful to the American arms. 1 his 
fact being remembered will enal)le us to (hdy estimate the 
value of the services which rescued this ])roperty fiom the 
grasp of the enemy, and secured the defeat of tlie detachment 
that was sent in quest of it, as completely as could have been 
Dossible. 



TRANSPORTING NAVAL STORKS. 

Oswego had not been occupied by regular ti-oops since 
the revolution, and Colonel Mitchel had arrived at Sackets 
Harl)or April ;')()th, with four comj»anies of heavy and one of 
light artillery serve<l as infantry. Of cannon the I'nrt lia.1 but 
five old guns, three of which had lost their truiiions. i'lat- 
forms and pickets were repaii'cd and the place was liastil_\ put 
in as good a state of defense as possible, when the oidiiy ap- 
peared on the oth of ^hiy with a force of four ships, tlnve 
brigs and a number of gunboats. .V cannonade was begun 
and returne(l with much spirit and a landing atlcm|itcd, 
but not acconijilished, when the ent'my stood olf h'om the 



120 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

shore for better anchorage. One or two of the enemy's boats 
were picked up and guards were stationed at various points 
along the shore. At daybreak on the ()th the fleet again ap- 
proached the vilhige and after a fire of three hours landed six 
hundred of DeWaterville's regiment, six hundred marines, two 
companies of the Glengary corps and three hundred and fifty 
seamen, who took possession of the public stores, burned the 
old barracks and returned on board their fleet on the morning 
of the seventh. The land forces were under General Drum- 
mond, and the fleet under Commodore Yeo. 

The naval stores were then at Oswego Falls (now Fulton), 
but Oolonel Mitchel having retired in that direction destroying 
the bridges and filling the roads with timber after him, the 
enemy thought it inexpedient to follow and soon after the 
fleet returned to its station near the Gallon Islands to blockade 
the passage of the stores, which it was known must pass in 
that vicinity. These stores, under the charge of Lieutenant 
Woolsey and escorted by Major D. Appling, of first rifle regi- 
ment, with a company of one hundred and fifty men, left Os- 
wego on the evening of the 28th of May in nineteen boats in 
the hope of gaining Stony Creek unmolested, from whence 
there would be but three miles of land carriage for the heavy 
ordnance and stores to Henderson Iiar])or, twelve miles from 
Sackets Harbor. The evening being dark and rainy, the bri- 
gade of boats rowed all night and at dawn on Sunday morn- 
ing met a party of Oneida Indians under command of Lieu- 
tenant Hill, of the rifle regiment at Salmon River, and at 
noon, May 29th, entered Sandy Creek, excejit one boat which 
from the misfortune or treachery of its pilot fell into the hands 
of the ciiciny. This boat contained one (•al)le and two twenty- 
four poCuiders, and from those on board the enenn' learned 
the particulars of the expedition and of the force by which it 



WARS AND RUMORS OF AVARS. 121 

was escorted. Upon onteriiio- Sandy ( 'reck Lieutenant W'ool- 
sey sent an express to notify Commodore Cliauncey of liis ai'- 
rival and couriers were dispatched in various din etioiis to 
rally teams to get the stores removed hy land to their destina- 
tion. The boats were run up the south hraneli of tlie creek, 
till they grounded a distance of two miles from its mouth. The 
lake is here for a great distance bordered hy a lt)W ridge of 
sand hills, slightly M^ooded, behind which is a mai'sli with 
open ponds. Through this marsh, which is destitute of trees 
or bushes and at that time was partly flowed from liigh water, 
the two branches of Sandy ("reek meander and unite but a 
few yards from their mouth, where then, as now. [IS.");',] a 
solitary family dwelt. 

On Monday morning a lookout boat in charge of Lieuten- 
ant Pierce discovered the enemy making for the creek and 
communicated the news to Lieutenant Woolsey who, at dawn 
dispatched messengers to call in the neighboring militia, and 
made hasty arrangements to meet the enemy who wcieseen 
soon after sunrise to enter the creek with three gunlioats. tin-ee 
cutters and one gig and commenced a canimnadt' with a sixty- 
eight pounder in the direction of tlie flotilla of Lieutenant 
Woolsey, the masts of which were visil.U- in tlie distance across 
a bend in the creek. These sliots w^'re diivcted in ]iart against 
a thick wood that extended on tlie north side of the soutii 
branch to nearly lialf a mile l)elow the boiits in the edge of 
which, fronting the open marsh, the rilh' company of Major 
Appling was concealed behind a brush and log fence entirely 
unobserved by the enemy. At nine o'clock Captain Harris, 
with a squadron of dragoons, and Captain Melvin, witha com- 
pany of light artillery and two six-pouiideis, arrived. This 
reinforcement was directed to halt a short distauci' in rear of 
the boats as the force best calculated for a bush light was al- 



122 WARS AND RUJrORS OP WARS. 

ready on tlie ground tliey could occupy witli the best advan- 
tage. Meanwhile the cannon were posted in a position where 
they could be used with effect if necessary, and the fences 
thrown down that the dragoons might maneuver without ob- 
struction. The enemy slowly advanced up the creek and 
landed on the soutli side, but finding it impossible to proceed, 
on account of the slimy condition of the marsli, they re-em- 
barked and proceeded on to within about twenty rods of the 
woods, where they landed and formed on the north bank at a 
l)lace now occupied by a storehouse and which afforded the 
first solid ground for marcliing. The advancing column, 
headed by Mr. Hoare, a midshipman of the British navy, had 
approached to within ten rods of the ambush, when, on a sig- 
nal, the riflemen of Major Appling arose from their conceal- 
ment and fired. Several fell dead and their leader fell pierced 
with eleven balls. So sudden and eftectual was this move- 
ment tliat it threw the enemy into confusion, and after a fire 
of a few minutes, tlie order was given t(j charge, upon which 
the rifle men rushed forward with loud cheers, holding their 
rifles in the the position of charged bayonets. The result was 
the surrender of the enemy at discretion. 

This was scarcely done, when the Indians, true to their 
character as savages, came furiously on, yelling and brandish- 
ing their weapons and were with the greatest difficulty pre- 
vented from murdering the disarmed })risoners, and, indeed, 
it has been generally believed that one or two British officers 
were mortally wounded after they had yielded. The enemy 
were commanded by Captains Popliam and Spilsbuiy and 
their loss was nineteen killed, fifty wounded and 133 taken 
prisoners. A few landed on the south bank and fled, but 
were pursued, and not one escaped to report their defeat. 
Among the prisoners were 27 marines, 106 sailors, with two 



WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 123 

post ca})taiiis, four licutcMiaiits of tlu' navy, one captain of iiia- 
rint's, two lientonaiits and two niidsliipmen. Tlic captain of 
niarint's and one niiilsliipiiiaii died of their wounds. I'opliam 
is said to have been an old acquaintance of W'oolsey's and as 
he came forward to surrender his sword, the latter exclaimed : 

" Why, Popham ! wliat are you doing in this creek ?" 

After some indifferent re})ly and a survey of our force, he 
replied : 

" Well, Woolsey, this is the first time T ever heard of 
riflemen charging hayonets ! " 

At the moment after the first fire the enemy had at- 
tempted to retreat, but the recoil of their heavy ordnance had 
forced the stern of their larger boats into the mud and they 
found it impossible. Upon this they attempted to throw over- 
lion rd their armament and succeeded in getting out one brass 
].icce, but were prevented from further mischief by our men. 
Ovn- loss was one Indian killed and one I'ill man woundcil. 
On the morning of the battle Captain Smith was ordci'ed on 
with ll!() marines, and Colonel Mitchell, with :!(M) artillery 
and infintry, wlio did not arrive in time to particij)atr in the 
engagement. The same was tlie ca.se of tlie neighboring mi- 
litia, who soon after arrived in great numbei-s. 

The conduct of Li<utcnants Mcintosh, Calhoun. .Mcd^ir- 
land. .\rmstong an.l Smith, and of I-Jisign .\ustin, who w.'re 
nn<lrr Major .\|.|. ling, was especially connneiidcd in his otli- 
cial rei-orts of the engagement. The dead w. 're buried, tlii' 
piTs,,ners niaivlied to Sackets Harbor, measures were taken 
to .Tcet shears lor unloading tli.- lieavv freight and, at o p. m. 
Woolsev was i-ejieveil by C,i|)tain lJi<lgeley, whom Chauncey 
had .HMil foi' the pur|H.s<'. The olli.aal report of l.ientenani 
Woolsey acknowledges llie Unremitted exerli<in>nr Lieulenant 
Tierce. Sailingmaster \'aughan and Midshipmen Ilarl. Mackty 



124 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

and Canton in the atfair. The roads were then new and al- 
most impassable and the labor of removin.^- the ,G,nns, cables 
and rigging was one of no ordinary magnitnde. There were, 
when the flotilla left Oswego, twenty-one long 32-pounders, ten 
24-pounders, three 42-ponnder carronades, ten cables and a 
qnantity of shot and other articles. A cable and two guns 
had been lost in the boat that fell in with the enemy and the 
prizes taken in the creek were one 24-pounder, a ()<S-pound 
carronade, with several smaller cannon and a considerable 
amount of small arms and ammunition. Such was the indus- 
try displayed in this labor that on Thursday there remained 
nothing but one long cable, which it was found extremely 
difficult to load on any vehicle, as it could not be divided, and 
a sufficient number of teams could not be advantageously at- 
tached to it. In this dilemma the idea was suggested of bear- 
ing it upon the shoulders of men, and the proposal was cheer- 
fully adopted by the citizens who had assembled to assist in 
these operations. They were accordingly arranged in the 
order of their stature and at the word of comr and shouldered 
the ponderous cable and took up their line of march for Sack- 
ets Harbor, about twenty miles distant, being as near together 
as they could conveniently walk. This novel procession passed 
by way of Ellis Village and Smithville and on the st'cond day 
reached the Harbor. As they approached tlie town the sail- 
ors came out to meet them and with loud cheers relieved them 
of their burden and marched triumphantly into the village. 



THE BLACK SNAKE. 

The British fieet rocoived large accessions to its naval 
force. The care that they evinced in the selection of officers 
for this lake indicates the importance they attached to its con- 
trol, and the industry that hoth nations displayed in the 
fitting out of large vessels, seemed to portend a mighty strug- 
gle for its supremacy. There occurred, meanwhile, some 
operations on a minor scale that demand our notice. With 
the view of cutting off some of the detachments of boats that 
were ascending the 8t. Lawrence with sa})plies, Chauncey 
about the middle of June directed Lieutenant Francis H. 
Gregory to take three gigs with their crews and secrete him- 
self among the Thousand Islands to watch for some opportu- 
nity to surprise and bring off or destroy some of these brigades 
of loaded boats. 

This expedition consisted of Lieutenant Gregory, ^\'illiam 
\^uighan and Samuel Dixon, sailingmasters, and eighteen 
men, armed with rifles, pistols and cutlasses. They saw two 
brigades of boats passing U{) full of troops and too strong to 
attack, and another passing down and not worth taking. Gun- 
boats were found stationed about once in six miles and a sys- 
tem of telegraphs erected on the heights, so that intelligence 
could be conveyed with great dispatch. On the 10th the par- 
ty were laying close under the Canada shore, four mik-s l)elow 
Alexandria P>ay, and near Bald Island, when a gunboat was 
coming down under easy sail, but nearer the niid<llr of tiie 
channel. Upon seeing the boats an officer with one or two 
men was sent in a skiff that was in tow to make inquiries of 
them, supi)()sing them to be Canadians. Upon approaching, 



126 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

Gregory hailed the strangers, demanding their surrender, 
which from necessity was obeyed ; but those on board seeing 
the movement opened a fire, wliich was returned. The vessel 
was soon taken and found to be the l>Lick Snake, or No. 9, 
Captain Landon, with one 1 8-pound er and IS men, chiefly 
royal marines. The prize was taken in tow and when a mile 
and a half below French Creek was met by a British gunboat. 
Finding escape impossible the prisoners and small arms were 
taken out and their prize scuttled at the foot of Round Is- 
land. The enemy arrived soon after, but not being- able to 
save it from sinking pursued Gregory's party several miles. 
Night coming on, he escaped, reached Grenadier Island late 
in the evening and the next day arrived safe at Sackets Har- 
bor with his prisoners. The commodore in his official report 
warmly recommended Gregory, Vaughan and Dixon to the 
notice of the department for their activity, zeal and success in 
the cruise. Congress, by an act passed May 4, 1834, awarded 
Gregory and his men $3,000 for this service. 



MINOR EVENTS. 

On the 17th of September, 1812, General Brown, who had 
his confidence, addressed the following letter to the governor : 
The first and only official notice that I have received 
from my government of the renewal of oflciisive oi.crations 
against Great Britain came to hand yestcrdny by the way of 
Ogdensburg. Would it not bo advis;il)k' to establish a line of 
post horses by the way of Johnstown to Lowville and from 
thence to this place and Ogdensburg ? Were I permitted it 



WARS Ais^D RUMORS OF WARS. l27 

should be done fortliwith. General Dodo'o advised me last 
week that he counted upon having 900 men embodied at 
Utica last Saturday and tliat these men would move to the 
tVontici's witli as little delay as possible; but I am yet to 
learn that they have marclied or moved. I humbly trust that 
what it was in my power to do with the means at my com- 
mand has been done, and that 1 am disposed to do what in me 
lies to prosecute this just and honorable war. 

The inferiority of our fleet is thus related in Cooper's Naval 
Histoi-y : "In the course of the autumn the Americans had in- 
creased their force to eleven sail, ten of which were the small 
schooners bought from the merchants and fitted with gunboat 
armaments, without quarters. In addition to the vessels al- 
ready named, were the Ontario, Scourge, Fair American and 
Asp. Neither of the ten were fit to cruise, and an ordinary 
eighteen-gun brig ought to have l)een able to co})e with them 
all in a good working breeze in close quarters. At long shot, 
however, and in smooth waters, they were not without a certain 
efficiency. As was proved in the end, in attacking batteries 
and in covering descents they were even found to be exceed- 
ingly serviceable. " 

At Sackets Harbor it was feared the British would cross 
on the ice. On the 9th of March, 1813, General l)earl)orn, wiio 
greatly feared a surprise, thus wrote to the secretaiy of war : 
I have not yet had the honor of a visit from Sir G. Pre- 
vost. His whole force is concenti'ated at Kingston, })robably 
amounting to six or seven thousand, about three thousand of 
whom are regular troops. The ice is good and we ex])ect him 
every day and every measure for preventing a sui-prise is in 
constant activity. The troops from Greenbush (upwards of 
400) have arrived. I have heard nothing from Tike; he 



128 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

should have been here yesterday. I have sent three expresses 
to meet him ; neither has returned. I have suspicions of the 
express employed by the quartermaster-general to convey the 
orders to Pike. The earliest measures were taken to convey a 
duplicate of his orders. By the 13th, the apprehensions of at- 
tack had nearly subsided, and General Dearborn again wrote : 
From the most recent and probable information I have 
obtained, I am induced to believe that Sir George Prevost 
thinks it is too late to attack this place. He undoubtedly 
meditated a coup-de-main against the shipping here. All the 
apprehension is now at Kingston. Sir George has visited 
York and Niagara and returned to Montreal. Several bodies 
of troops have passed up from Montreal ; but such precautions 
have been taken to })revent their number being ascertained, as 
to render it impossible to form any accurate opinion of their 
forces, or even to imagine very nearly what tliey amount to. 
From various sources I am perfectly satisfied that they are not 
in sufficient force to attack this place knowing, as they do, 
that we have collected a fine body of troops from Greenbush 
and Plattsburg and that the militia have been called in. We 
are probably just strong enough on each side to defend, but 
not in sufficient force to hazard an offensive movement. The 
difference of attacking and being attacked, as it regards the 
contiguous posts of Kingston and Sackets Harbor, can not be 
estimated at less than three or four thousand men, arising 
from the circumstance of militia acting only on the defensive. 
Brigade orders : The unoffending citizens of Canada 
are many of them our own countrymen, and the poor Cana- 
dians have been forced into the Avar. Tlicir property, tliere- 
fore, must be held sacred ; and any soldier who shall so far 
neglect the honor of liis profession as be to guilty of plundering 
the inhabitants, shall, if convicted, be punished with death. 



WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 129 

But the comniaiuliiig genoral assures the troops that sliouM 
they capture a large quantity of public stores he will use his 
best endeavors to procure them a reward from his govern- 
ment. 

On the 14th of June, 1813, Lieutenant Wolcott Chauncey 
received orders from Commodore Chauncey to proceed on a 
cruis(,', and having reached tlie vicinity of Presc^ue Isle, in the 
schooner Lady of the Lake, on tlie morning of the 10th fell in 
with and ca})tured the English schooner Lady Murray from 
Kingston bound ior York, and laden with provisions, powder, 
shot and tixed ammunitions. One ensign and fifteen privates, 
belonging to the 41st and lOlth regiments, were taken. The 
prize was taken into Sackets Harbor. 

( )n the 2d of July a secret expedition was fitted out from 
Kingston, with the design of firing the Pike and the naval 
stores at Sackets Harbor in the night. On arriving at the 
isthmus of Point Peninsula they drew their l)()ats .>ut and con- 
cealed them in the bushes till circumstances might fa vor them, 
but a deserter from tlieir lunuber having escaped to Sackets 
Harbor, they returned back. Lpon receiving intelligence of 
this, a force was sent to intercept the detachment, but without 
success. 

The Sylph, pierced for 24 guns but carrying 20. and 
schooner-rigged, was built and ready fbr scrviic in thii'ty- 
three days from the time her timbei- was growing. 

On the night of .May 2."), 1S14. Lieutenant Du.llcy with 
two guard l)oats fell in with three of the enemy's in the hay. 
who were haih'd, hut not heing pi'operly answered, were tiivd 
upon when the hitter lied. .\ reiiitbrcenient was hastily ..h- 
tained but nothing was seen or found oi'the enemy except six 



130 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 

barrels of powder, slung in pairs to be carried on the shoulders 
of men, and doubtless intended to fire our vessels stealthily. 
This accounted for their hasty retreat when fired upon, for 
fear of accidental explosion. This insidious plan of the enemj' 
could scarcely have succeeded, as, l)esi(U^s two lines of guard 
boats, all the approaches were secured ])y booms, and a marine 
guard boat and numerous sentinels were posted near. The 
guns of the Madison that was close to the stern of the Superior 
were kept loaded with canister and bags of musket balls, to 
rake under if necessary. 

The M6]uiwk, a frigate of 44 guns, was lannclied at Sack- 
ets Harbor, having been but 34 days in building. The indomit- 
able Mr. Henry Eckford, the energetic shipbuilder, who directed 
this department, acquired a large fortune in the war, but was 
subsequently reduced by some stock oi)erations. He died at 
Constantinople, November 12, 1831, where for several years, 
he had been chief director of the dock yards in the Turkish 
Empire. No higher compliments to his talents could be paid 
than that of the sultan, who, in s])eaking of him said tliat 
America must be great, if it could si)are such men as Eck- 
ford. 

On the 9th of August, Al)ram Shoemaker, with liis brother 
and a Mr. Sergeant, in a boat, bound from Oswego to S;!ckets 
Harbor, was attacked off Stony Point by a British barge, un- 
der a lieutenant of marines, and after a valiant resistance was 
captured. After securing the prize, the lieutenant sent all his 
men to join another boat's crew, except four, which number 
he deemed sufficient to secure her. Seizing a propci- moment, 
and without waiting for a concerted signal, Shoemaker pushed 
the lieutenant overboai'd, knocked down a sailor, and, calling 
upon his comrades to help, soon found himself the master of 



WARS AND RUMOKS OF WARS. 131 

the boat, but severely wounded l)y a cutlass. Tlie niovcincnt 
being seen by the other boat, they were obliged to al»an(h)n 
their prize, but succeeded in reaching Sackets Harl)or in a 
small boat. 

Great a|)[)rehensions were felt for the safety of thi' Ilii-bor, 
which led to an application to the executive for aid. ("olonel 
A\'ashington Irving, aid-de-camp to the governor, arrived at 
this station October 5, 1814, with orders to the commanding 
officer to make such requisitions on tlie militia as he might 
deem necessary. After consultation with (olonel jNIitcliell, 
General Collins called the militia, en masse, fi'om the connties 
of Herkimer, Oneida, Lewis and Jclferson. The two former 
produced about 2,o00 men, the latter not more than KlO, 
which made the force at the harbor between five and six thou- 
sand men. Great difficulty was experienced tVoiri the want 
of suitable Cjuarters for so great a body. Many were (piai-- 
tered in dwellings and barns, and from twenty to thirty were 
often assigned to a single room. The discomforts attending 
these accommodations very naturally e.xcited uneasiness, and 
at the expiration of the draft, it was appivhendi'd that the mi- 
litia would be with ditficulty prevented from going home, and 
that it would become necessary to supi)ly their places with 
regulars. The aj)prehensions were not justified by th<' events 
that followed, and the militia were allowed to return home. 
Two frigates of the largest class, one on Navy Point, 
in Sackets Harbor, to be called the New Orleans, and 
anotlier of the same class at Storr's llarboi-. faither u|i the 
bay, to be called the Chij)pevva, were begun and their iiulls 
pai'tly completed, when the news of peace put a stop to the 
war. 



Up the St. Lawrence, 1796. 

Mr. Isaac Weld, an Irish refugee, as he was leaving Mon- 
treal in September, 1796, for a journey up the St. Lawrence, 
had as his first concern to provide a large tent and some camp 
e(juipage, buffalo skins, a store of dried provisions, kegs of 
brandy and wine, and, in short, to make every usual and nec- 
essary preparation for the journey. Except for about fifty 
miles, there were roads and scattered settlements at no great 
distance from each other all the way up to Kingston ; but no 
one ever thought of going by land, as there would be great 
difficulty in hiring horses and in crossing streams without 
l)ridges, says Dr. Hough. 

The bateaux were never laden until the boats had been 
got up the Lachine Rapids. Three men could take an empty 
boat of two tons up these first rapids, keeping as close as pos- 
sible to the shore and using poles, oars and sails, as found 
most advantageous. 7t was a very laborious task ; but from 
long observation they had been able to find places some times 
half a mile or in others two or three miles apart, where they 
could take breatb. I^aeh of these places the boatmen called 
" nue pipe, " because tliey were there allowed to fill their pipes, 
and this term had come to be a sort of itinerary measure, as, 



UP THE ST. LAWREXCE, 170G. 133 

such a place is - three pipes off. " The '• pipe " was about 
equal on an average to three-quarters of an English mile. 

The passage up the rapids was so tedious that travelers 
often proceeded on fbot, by the roads along the n..rth s]i„re. 

Coming up from Lower Canada in 'midsunnner, by the 
tedious water passage, which had tlum been sonn-what re- 
lieved by canals and locks for bateaux, he iioticr.I, as lie 
reached the level of lake navigation, enormous flocks ..f pig- 
eons, "which during particular years come down frcm tl'c 
northern regions in flights that it i.s marvellous to tell of " 

Weld's description of the voyage to Kingston is as fol- 
lows : The current of the St. Lawrence from Oswegatchie up- 
wards is much more gentle than in other parts between Mon- 
treal and Lake Ontario, except only where the river is consid- 
erably dilated as at Lakes St. Louis and St. Frances ; however, 
notwithstanding its being so gentle we did not advance more 
than twenty-five miles in the course of the day, owing to the 
numerous stops that we made, more from motives of pleasure 
than necessit}^ The evening was uncommonly fine and tow- 
ards sunset a brisk gale sprang up, tlie conductor judged it 
advisable to take advantage of it and to continue the voyage 
all night, in order to make up for the lime we had lost during 
the day. 

We accordingly proceeded, but towaids midnight the wind 
died away. This circumstance, liowcver, did not alter th,' de- 
termination of the conduct(u-. The men wei-(> ordered to lh<" 
oars and notwithstanding they had hahored hai'd during 
the preceding day and had no ivst, yet they weiv kept closely 
at work until daybreak, except foi' one hour, duiing which 
they were allowed to stop to cook their j.iovisions. 

Where there is a gentle current as in this j.art of the river 
the Canadians will work at the oars many hours without in- 



134 UP THE ST. LAWRENCE, 1796. 

termission ; they seem to think it no hardship to he employed 
in tliis instance the whole night ; on the contrary, they plied 
as vigorously as if tliey had but just set out, singing merrily 
the whole time. Tlie French Canadians have in general a 
good ear for music and sing duets with tolerable accuracy. 
They have one very favorite duet amongst them called the 
" rowing duet, " which as they sing they mark time to with 
each stroke of the oar ; indeed, when rowing in smooth water 
they mark the time of most of the airs they sing in the same 
manner. 

AI)out eight o'clock the next and eighth morning of our 
voyage, we entered the last before you come to that of On- 
tario, called The Lake of a Thousand Islands, on account of 
the muUiplicity of them, which it contains. 

Many of these islands are scarcely larger than a bateaux, 
and none of tliem, except such as are situated at the upper and 
lower extremities of the lake, appearing to me to contain more 
than fifteen English acres each. They are all covered with 
wood even to the sn:iallest. The trees on these last are smaller 
in their growth, but the larger islands produce as fine timber 
as will 'bo found on the main shores of the lake. Many of 
these islands are situated so closely together that it would be 
easy to throw a pebble from one to the other. Notwithstand- 
ing which circumstance, the passage between them is perfectly 
safe and commodious for bateaux and between some of them 
tliat are even thus close to each other is water sufficient for a 
frigate. The water is uncommonly clear as it is in every part 
of the river from Lake St. Francis upwards. Between that lake 
and the I'tawas River downwards it is discolored, as 1 have 
Ijcfore observed, by passing over Ijcds of marl. 

The shores of all these islands under our notice are rocky, 
most of them rise very boldly and some exhibit perpendicular 



UP THE ST. LAWRENCE, 1706. 135 

masses of rock towards tlie water, upwards of twenty fed liioh. 
The scenery presented to view in passing between these ishnuls 
is beautiful in the highest degree. Sometimes in passing 
through a narrow strait you find yourself in a basin, hind- 
locked on every side, that appears to have no (M.ininunicaticn 
with the lake,except by the passage through wliieh you have 
entered. You are looking about, perhaps, for an outlet to en- 
able you to proceed, thinking at last to see some little channel 
which will just admit your bateaux— when suddeidy an ex- 
panded sheet of water opens upon you, whose l)Oundary is the 
horizon alone. Again in a few minutes, you find yourself 
land-locked, and again a spacious |)assage as suddenly pre- 
sents itself; at other times, when in the middle of one of these 
basins," between a cluster of islands, a dozen different cliannels, 
like so many noble rivers, meet the eye, perhaj.s e(|nally un- 
expectedly, and on each side the islands appear regularly I'e- 
tiring till they sink from the sight in the distance. 

Every minute during the passage of this lake, the |)ros- 
pect varies. The numerous Indian hunting encam])nients on 
the different islands, with the smoke of their tires rising uj) 
between the trees, added considerably to the beauty of the 
scenery as we passed through it. The Lake of the Thousand 
Islands is twenty-five miles in length and about six in breadth. 
From its upper end to Kingston, at which we arrived early in 
the evening, the distance is fifteen miles. 

The length of time requiied to ascend the Rivei- St. Law- 
rence, from Montreal to Kingston, is eonunoniy found to be 
about seven days. If the wind snould Im' siron- and very 
favorable the passage may be pei-romied in a less inne; but 
should it, on the contrary, be adverse. mikI blow \eiy strong, 
the passage will be protracted somewhat longvi'. .\n adverse, 
or favorable wind, however, seldom makes a dillerence of more 



136 UP THE ST. LAWRENCE, 179G. 

tliau three days in the length of the passage upwards, or in 
each case it is necessary to work the bateaux along by means of 
poles, for the greater part of the way. The passage downward 
is performed in two or three days, according to the wind. The 
current is so strong, that a contrary wind seldom lengthens 
the passage in that direction more than a day. 

Kingston, as seen by Mr. Weld, just before the beginning 
of the present century, contained a fort, barracks for troops, 
an Episcopal church, and about a hundred houses, mostly in- 
habited by persons who had emigrated from the United States 
at the close of the Revolutionar}^ war. Some of the houses 
were of stone or brick, but for the most part they were ot 
wood . 

From sixty to one hundred soldiers were usually quar- 
tered in the garrison. The town had a considerable amount 
of trade, and was growing rapidly in size, the goods and 
peltries of traders being here transferred from bateaux to 
vessels. The principal merchants were mostly partners of 
old-established houses in Montreal and Quebec, and the 
stranger, especially if a British subject, was sure to meet a 
most hospitable and friendly reception among them. 

Kingston was then the principal station for shipbuilding 
on the Lakes, and at that period, several decked merchant 
vessels, schooners, and sloops, of from 50 to 200 tons each, and 
numberless large sailing bateaux, were kept employed on Lake 
Ontario. Tliere were then no vessels larger than bateaux owned 
on the south side of the Lake, and the British vessels that plied 
between Kingston and Niagara, rarely touched at any other 
])lacc. 

The heaviest item of ship-building at that period was iron, 
which came from England, but great hoi)es were founded upon 



UP THE ST. LAWREXCE, 1790. 137 

the copper of the Lake Superior country, which was then 
known to exist, but had not yet been worked to. much extent. 
The estabhshed rate of passage across the Lake was tluMi 
two guineas in the cabin, and one guinea in the steerage, in- 
cluding board. Freight was 36 shilhngs Sterhng i)vr tun, or 
nearly as much as then charged across the Atlantic. 



Down the St. Lawrence, 1818. 

John M. Diincjin in 1818 dosceiided the St. Lawrence, 
and recorded his observations. Another day or two might 
have been agreeably spent here, [at Kingston,] but October 
was closing upon me, and I feared that frost might set in, 
which would make traveling both difficult and disagreeable. 
It was, therefore, with pleasure that I learned that some 
bateaux were to go down the river the following morning, 
and I did not fail to be at the w^ater side in time to secure a 
passage by them. * * * The Durham boats of the St. 
Lawrence are similar to those on the Mohawk. In smooth 
water they use a sail or oars, but are forced up the rapids by 
incessant and laborious exertions with the pole. They are 
generally navigated by natives of the United States. The one 
in which 1 sailed in May, was according to the information of 
tlie Captain, (VI feet in keel, and 11 feet 4 inches in beam. She 
carried aboiil '_!(; tons, and drew only 2S inches of water. She 
had on bonrd ahoiU "JTO barrels of Hour, which sunk hei' gun- 
wale within a few inches of the watei' : and to defend us in 
]»assing through the ra})ids, a couple of stout planks, about a 
foot in breadth, were nailed along the sides ; a precaution 



DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE, 1818. 139 

wliich, as we aftei'wards experienced, was no more than 
needful. 

Bateaux are flat-bottomed boats, about half tli(> size of the 
others, tapering to a point at each end, and so substantially 
constructed that they will endure a great deal of hard knocking 
on the channel without danger to the passengers. They do 
not sink so low in the water as the boats navigated by Canadian 
voyagers, — veterans ^^■ho liave been trained from their youth 
to the use of the paddle and the setting pole, and who know 
every channel, rock, and l)reaker, in the rapids, from the 
Long Sault to Montreal. If a traveler going down the River 
has his choice, let him by all means prefer the bateaux ; it 
does not sail as fest as a Durham boat, and he may be a day 
longer in making the passage, but in ordinary cases he is far 
safer. 

Passengers by either of these vessels must take with them 
a moderate supply of provisions, for it is not customary to go 
on shore except to sleep ; and if the wind is ahead, four or five 
days may be spent between Kingston and Montreal. Going 
uj) the river is a far more tedious process. They should also be 
well provided, even in summer, with cloaks or other coverings, 
for the night dews on the rivers are excessively cold. 

The bateaux sailed from Kingston with a favorable 
breeze, between ten and eleven in the forenoon, and while the 
wind lasted got on gallantly ; but towards the afternoon we 
\V(>re almost becalmed ill the Lake of a Thousand Isles, and 
our voyagers were coni[)cll(Ml to lug away at the oai-. We had 
four rowers, besides the conductor, who steered with a snudl 
paddle. The scenery of this Lake, as it is called, is very 
picturesque, but the succession of islands becomes at last tire- 
some, the more so that you find them take the wind out of the 
uail, and wofuUy retard your })rogress. 1 had made allowance 



140 DOWN THE ST. LAWKEXCE, 1818. 

for a reasonable proportion of exaggeration in its poetical 
name, but the Islands crowded upon each other in such 
numerous groups, and we were so long in getting clear of 
them, that I began at last to doubt whether there might be two 
thousand of them instead of one. 

They are of all sizes ; some of them bare rocks, a few 
feet square, others two or three miles long, and thickly 
wooded. Loch Lomond, with her two dozen islets, has long- 
sheltered the manufacturers of the genuine peat reek from the 
scent of the Revenue officers ; but this must be the very para- 
dise of smugglers, should such a trade ever become profitable 
in Upper Canada — and a hopeless business it will be for excise 
men who are sent to ferret them out. 

Towards evening it began to rain ; but some of the com- 
pany on board were more disagreeable than the weather. 
* * * * But for their presence, I could have endured the 
rain for an hour or two, to listen to the boat songs of the 
Canadian voyagers, which in the stillness of the night had a 
peculiar pleasing effect. They kept time to these songs as 
they rowed ; and the splashing of the oars in the water, 
combined with the wildness of their cadence, gave a romantic 
character to our darksome voyage. 

In most of the songs, two of the boatmen began the air, 
the other two sang a response, and then all united in the 
chorus. Their music might not have been thought extremely 
fine, by those whose skill in concords and chromatics forbids 
them to be gratified but on scientific principles. My conven- 
ient ignorance of those rules allowed me to reap undisturbed 
enjoyment from the voyagers' melodies, which like many u})oii 
Scotch airs, were singularly plaintive and pleasing. 

Our conductor expected to have reached Brockville that 
evening, a sm.iU town about 50 miles below Kingston, but we 



DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE, 1818. 141 

began to be somewhat impatient to get on .shore. The evening 
was so dark, that we could with difficulty distinguish even tlie 
shadowy outline of the river ; not a sound was heard around 
us but the echo of the voices of those on board, or the splash 
of the oars ; and we were gliding along with no other convic- 
tions of safety than what arose in firm confidence in our 
l)oatmen. About eight o'clock a twinkling light by the river's 
side broke upon our view ; we hailed the cheering spark, and 
urged the conductor to haul in to the bank, in the hope of 
obtaining lodgings. It was a farmer's house ; a crackling fire 
of pine logs blazed on the ample hearth, festoons of sliced 
apples for winter pies, hung around it to dry, and the com- 
fortable kitchen contrasted most agreeably with our situation 
in the bateau in darkness and rain. The inmates made us 
welcome to their fireside, and although not much used to 
entertain strangers., very soon provided for us a most comfor- 
table supper. Hot steaks, fried bacon and potatoes for those 
who preferred it, tea and toast, were served up with an alacrity 
tliat would have done credit to a regular inn. It scarcely needs 
to be added, that we enacted wonders with the knife and fork. 
When the time of retiring came, every bed in the house was 
surrendered for our use ; but finding that I could not 
])artieipate in one, unless I accepted a bed-fellow. 1 jircferred 
my l)ox-coat and the fioor. 

About two o'clock next morning, we were aroused to 
resume our voyage. The boatmen before starting swallowed 
a plentiful allowance of .soup thickened with meat and bread, 
very similar to what sailors call lobscoss ; the players fortified 
themselves for the water 1)y an antijihogmatic of rum. 

The wind had shifted dui'ing the night, and was now 
right ahead. It was a genuine American North-wt'ster, and 
blew as if it were re8olved to take the skin off our cheeks. The 



142 DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE, 1818. 

water froze upon the oars, as they rose above the surface ; aud 
I never appreciated better the comforts of a thick traveling 
coat, and a fur cap. Our boatmen had to row without inter- 
mission ; and although they did not always pull very hard, 
they tugged away with amazing constancy. About nine 
o'clock in the morning, we reached Prescott, sixty-seven miles 
from Kingston. 



Jbr 



Captivity of Hrs Howe, 1755. 

Tlie narrative of Mrs. Jemima Howe's ca})tivity was first 
published in a booklet, and later was popularized in tlie school 
readers of 80 years ago. The copy from which this is repro- 
duced is characterized by the modified f for s in all instances 
e.s'cept at the end of a word, as "fons." 

As Messrs. (Aalel) Howe, Hilkiah Grout, and IJenjamin 
Gaffield, who had been hoeing corn in the meadow, west of the 
river, were returning home a little before sunset to a place 
called Bridgman's Fort, they were fired upon by twelve 
Indians, who had ambushed their path. Howe was on horse- 
back, with two young lads, his children, behind him. A ball, 
which broke through his thigh, brought him to the ground. 
His horse ran a few rods and fell likewise, and both the lads 
were taken. The Indians in their savage manner, coming u}> 
to Howe, pierced his body with as})ear, tore off his scalp, stuck 
a hatchet in his head, and left him in this foi'lorn condition. 

He was found alive the next morning after by a party of 
men from Fort Hinsdale ; and being asked by one of the party 
wliether he knew him, he answci-ed, Yes, 1 know you all. 
Tiiese were his last words, though he did not expire until 
after his friends had arrived with him at Fort Hinsdale. 



144 CAPTIVITY OF MRS. HOWE, 1755. 

Grout was so fortunate as to escape unhurt, but Gaffield in the 
attempt to wade through the river which was indeed fordable 
at that time, was unfortunately drowned. Flushed with the 
success they had met here, the savages went directly to Bridg- 
man's Fort. There was no man in it, and only three women 
and some children, Mrs. Jemima Howe, Mrs. Submit Grout, 
and Mrs. Eunice Gaffield. 

Their husbands I need not mention again, and their 
feelings at this junction I will not attempt to describe. They 
had heard the enemies' guns, but knew not what had happened 
to their friends. Extremely anxious for their safety, they 
stood longing to embrace them, until at length, concluding 
trom the noise thay heard without that some of them were 
come, they unbarred the gate in a hurry to receive them ; 
when lo ! to their inexpressible disappointment and surprise, 
instead of their husbands, in rushed a number of hideous 
Indians, to whom they and their tender offspring became an 
easy pray ; and from whom they had nothing to expect but 
either an immediate death, or a long captivity. The latter of 
these, by favor of Providence, turned out to be the lot of these 
unhappy women, and their still more unhappy, because more 
helpless, children Mrs. GatReld had but one, Mrs. Grout had 
three, and Mrs. Howe seven. The eldest of Mrs. Howe's was 
eleven years old, and the youngest but six months. 

The two eldest were daughters, which she had hy \wr ti"st 
husband, Mr. William Phipps, who was also slain by the 
Indians, of which ] doubt not but you have see an account in 
Mr. Doolittle's history. It was from the mouth of this woman 
that I lately received the foregoing account. She also gave 
me, I doubt not, a true, though, to he sure, a very brief and 
imperfect history of her captivity, which I here insert for your 
perusal. The Indians, (she says) liaving jjlundered and pnt 



C'Ai>TiViTY OF Mi:s. iiov.-];, iVo;". l-I' 

tire to the fort, we marched, ay near as I could judge, a mile 
and a half into the woods, where we encamped that night. 
When the morning came, and we had advanced as much 
farther, six Indians were sent back to the place of our late 
abode, who collected a little more plunder, and destroj'cd some 
other effects that had been left behind ; but they did not return 
until the day was so far spent, that it was judged best to con- 
tinue where we were through the night. Early the next 
morning we set off for Canada, and continued our march eight 
days successfully, until we had reached the ])lace where the In- 
dians had left their canoes,about fifteen miles from Crown Point. 
This was a long and tedious march ; but the captives, by 
divine assistance, were enabled to endure it with less trouble 
and difficulty than they had reason to expect. 

From such savage masters, in such indignant circum- 
stances, we could not rationally hope for kinder treatment th:',n 
we received. Some of us it is true, had a harder lot than 
others ; and among the children, I thought my son Squire 
had the hardest of any. He was then only four years old, and 
when we stopped to rest our weary limbs, and he sat down on 
his master's pack, the savage monster would often knock him 
off; and sometimes too with the handle of his hiitchet. 
Several ugly marks, indented in his head by the cruel Indians, 
at that tender age, are still plainly to be seen. At length we 
arrived at Crown Point, and took up oui- (piarters there, for the 
space of near a week. In the meantime, same of the Indians 
went to Montreal, and took several of tlie weary captives along 
with them, with a view of selling them to the French. They 
did not succeed however, in finding a market for any of them. 
Tliey gave my youngest (hiughter to the governoi". de A'au- 
dreuil, had a drunken frolic, and returned again to Crown 
Point, with the re<t of their i)ris;.ne;s. JM'oni lience we set olf 



146 CAPTIVITY OF MRS. HOWE, 1 7 '10. 

for St. John's, in four or five canoes, just as night was coming 
on, and were soon surrounded witli (hirkness. A heavy storm 
hung over us. The sound of the rolHng thunder was very 
terrible upon the waters, which at every flash of expansive 
lightning seemed to be all in a blaze. Yet to this we were 
indeV)ted for all the light we enjoyed. No object could we 
discern any longer than the flashes lasted. 

In this posture we sailed in our open tottei'ing canoes, 
almost the whole of that dreary night. The morning indeed 
had not yet begun to dawn, when we all went ashore : and 
having collected a heap of sand gravel for a pillow, I laid 
myself down, with my tender infant by my side not knowing 
where any of my other children were or what a miserable 
condition the}^ might be in. The next day, however, under 
the wing of that ever present and all ])Owerful Providence, 
which had preserved us through the darkness and imminent 
dangers of the preceding night, we all arrived in safety at 
St. John's. Our next movement was to St. Francois, the 
metropolis, if I may call it, to which the Indians, who led 
us captive, belonged. Soon after our arrival at that wretched 
capital, a council, consisting of the chief Sachem, and some 
principal warriors of the St. Francois tribe, was convened ; 
and after the ceremonies usua' on such occasions were over, I 
was conducted and delivered tij an old squaw, who tlie Indians 
told me I must call my mother. My infant still continued to 
be the property of its originnl Indian owners. I was never- 
theless permitted to keej) it with me a while longer, for the 
sake of saving them the troubk' of looking after it. When the 
weather began to grow cold, shuddering at the prospect of 
approaching winter, I ac(iu;iintc(l my new mother, that 1 did 
not think it would be possibh- for me to endure it, if I 
must spend it with hvv, and share as the Indians did. 



CAPTIVITY OF Mi;s. IIOWK. IT-").". 147 

Listening to my repeated and earnest solicitations that I 
might be disposed of among some of the French inhabitants of 
Canada, she at length set otlt' with ww and my infant, attended 
by some male Indians, upon a journey to Montreal, in hopes 
of finding a market for me there. Hut tlie attem])t i)rove<l 
unsuccessful, and the jonrney tedious indeed. 

Our provision was so scanty as well as insijiid and 
unsavory ; the weather was so cold, and the traveling so vciw 
bad, that it often seemed as if I nuist have i)erished on tlic 
way. While we were at Moiiti-cal. wc went into the liousc of 
a certain French gentleman, whose lady being sent Ibi-. and 
coming into tlie room wliere I was, to examine me, seeing I 
had an infant, exclaimed with an oath. '• I will not buy a 
woman who has a child to look after." Thei'e was a swill pail 
standing near me, in which I observed some ci-usts of bread 
swimming on the surface of the greasy liipior it contained. 
Sorely pinched with hunger, I skimmed them otfwithmy 
hands, and ate them ; inid this was all the refreshment which 
the house afforded re. Somewhere in the cours(> of this visit 
to Montreal, my Indian mother was so unfortunate as to catch 
the smalli)Ox, of whicli distemper she died, soon after our 
return, which was by watt'r, to St. Francois. .\nd now came 
on the season when the Indians began to |)i(i)aic foi- a win- 
ter's hnnt. 

I was ordered to rectum my poor child to those of them 
who still claimed it as their property. This was a severe trial. 
The l)alH' clung to my bosom with all its might : but I was 
obliged to pluck it thence, and (h'livcr it, slii'ieking and 
screaming enouidi to |)enetratea heart of stone, inti> the hands 
of those unfeeling wi'ctches. whose lender mercies may be 
termed crnel. It was soon carried off by a hunting j.arty of 
thos'> Indians, to a ])lace called Metli^kow. at tlu' lower end of 



148 CAPTIVITY OF MRS HOWE, ITo". 

Lake Chainplain, whither, in about a month after it was my 
fortune to follow them. xA^nd here I found it, it is true, but in 
a condition that afforded me no great satisfiiction ; it being 
greatly emaciated and almost starved. I took it in my arms, 
put its tace to mine, and it instantly bit me with such violence, 
that it seemed as if I must have parted with a piece of my 
cheek. I was permitted to lodge with it that, and the two 
following nights ; but every morning that intervened, the 
Indians, I suppose on purpose to torment me, sent me away 
to another wigwam, which stood at a little distance, though 
not so far from the one in which my distressed infant was 
confined, but that I could plainly hear its incessant cries, and 
heartrending lamentations. In this deplorable condition, I 
was obliged to take my leave of it, on the morning of the third 
day after my arrival at the place. We moved down the lake 
several miles the same day ; and the night following was 
remarkable on account of the great earthquake which terribly 
shook that howling wilderness. 

Among the islands hereabouts, we spent the winter season, 
often shifting our quarters, and roving about from one place 
to another ; our family consisting of three persons only, beside 
myself, viz.: my late mother's daughter, whom therefore I 
called my sister, her sanhop, and a pappoose. They once left 
me alone two dismal nights ; and when they returned to me 
again, perceiving them smile at each other, I asked what is the 
matter? They replied, that two of my children were no more. 
One of which, they said, died a natural death, and the other 
was knocked on the head. I did not utter many words, but 
my heart was sorely pained within me, and my mind exceed- 
ingly troubled with strange and awful ideas. I often 
imagined, for instance, that I plainly saw the naked carcasses 
of my deceased children hanging upon the limbs of the trees, 



CAPTIVITY OF NIKS. IJOWK, ]i~)'k I4!> 

as the Indians are wont to hang the raw hides of those beasts 
which they take in hunting. It was not long, however, before 
it was ordered by kind Providence, that I should be relieved 
in a good measure from those horrid imaginations; for as I 
was walking one day upon tlie ice, observing a smoke at some 
distance upon the land, it must proceed, thougbt I, from the 
fire of some Indian hut ; and who knows but some one of my 
poor children may be there. My curiosity, thus excited, led 
me to the place, and there 1 found my son Caleb, a little boy 
between two and three years old, whom 1 had latrly buried, 
in sentiment at least ; or rather imagined to ba ve been (b^jH ved 
of life, and perhaps also denied a decent grave. 

I found him likewise in tolerable health and circumstances, 
under the protection of a fond Indian mother : and moreover 
had the happiness of lodging with him in my arms one joyful 
night. Again we shifted our quarters, wlien we bad traveled 
eight or ten miles upon the snow and ice. came to a place 
where the Indians manufactured sugar which tbey extracted 
from maple trees. Here an Indian came to visit us, whom 1 
knew, and who could speak I]nglish. He asked me wby 1 did 
not go to see my son Squire. I replied that I bad lately be( n 
informed that he was dead. He assured me tliat be was yet 
alive, and but two or three miles off, on tlie opposite side of 
the Lake. At my request, he gave me tln' best directions he 
could to the place of his abode. I resolved to embrace tbe first 
opportunity that offered of endeavoring to search it out. While 
I was busy in contemplating this affair, tlie Indians obtained 
a little bread, of which they gave me a small share. 1 di<l not 
taste a morsal of it myself, but .saved it all for my poor diild, 
if I should be so lucky as to find liini. At lenglb. baving 
obtained of my keepers leave to be absent for one day, ! set olf 
early in the morning, and steering, as well as 1 could, accord- 



1"0 rAPTIVTTY OF ^FRS. HOWE, 175o. 

in.o- to the directions wliich the friendly Indian had given ine, 
1 (luickly found the place, which he had so accurately 
marked out. 

I heheld, as I drew nigh, my little son without the camp ; 
hut he looked, thought I, like a starved and mangy jDuppy, 
that had been wallowing in the ashes. I took him in my 
arms, and he spoke to me these words, in the Indian tongue : 
" ■\h)tlier, are you come ? '' I took him into the wigwam with 
me, and ol)serving a number of Indian children in it, I dis- 
tributed all the l)read which I had reserved for my own child, 
among them all ; otherwise I sliould have given great offence. 
My little boy appeared to be very fond of his new mother, kept 
as near me as possible while I stayed ; and when I told him 
I must go, he fell as though he had been knocked down with 
a club. But having recommended him to the care of Him who 
made him, when the day was far spent, and the time would 
permit me to stay no longer, I departed, you may well suppose, 
with a heavy load at my heart. The tidings I had received of 
the death of my youngest child had, a little before, been con- 
liimed to me beyond a doul)t ; but I could not mourn so 
heartily for the deceased, as for the living child. 

When the winter broke up, we removed to St. John's ; 
and through the ensuing summer, our principal residence wag 
at no great distance from tlie fort at that place. In the mean- 
time, liowever, my sister's husband having been out with a 
scouting ])arty to some of the English settlements, had a 
drunken frolie at tlie foit, when he returned. His wife, who 
never got drunk, but ha<l often experienced the ill effects of 
her liusl)and's intemptn'ance, fearing what the consequence 
iiiiglit pi-ove, if he sliould come liome in a morose and turbu- 
lent liumoi-, to avoid Iiis insolenee, ])ro[)osed that we should 
both retire, and keej) out of the reach of it, until the storm 



CAPTIVITY OF ^rP.S. HOWE, 1 Too. lol 

abated. We absconded accoi'dinoly : l)ut so it haiipcncd. that 
I returned, and ventured into his presenec. bcibrchis wife had 
})resumed to come ni^h him. 1 found him in his wiiiwam. 
and in a surly mood ; and not being able to revenue u]ion his 
wife, because she was not at home, he laid hold of me, and 
hurried me to the fort ; and for a trifling consideration, .^ol<l 
me to a French gentleman, whose name was Saccajjce. 

It is an ill wind certainly that blows nobody any good. I 
had been with the Indians a year lacking fourteen (hiys : and, 
if not for my sister, yet for me, it was a lucky cii'cumstance 
indeed, which thus at last, in an unexpected moment, snatched 
me out of their cruel hands, and placed me beyond the reach 
of their insolent power. After my Indian master had dis})Osed 
of me in the manner related above, and tlie moment of sober 
reflection had arrived, perceiving that i\\r man who had 
bought me had taken tlie advantage of him in an unguarded 
hour, his resentment began to kindl<\ and his indignation i-ose 
so high, that he threatened to kill me if he should meet me 
alone; or if he could not revenge himself thus, that he would 
set fire to the fort. I was therefore secreted in an upper 
cluuuber, and the fort carefully guarde(l, until his wi'ath ha<l 
time to cool. My service in the fannly to which 1 was advan- 
ced, was perfect freedom, in com])arison with what it had been 
among the barbarous Indians. 

My new master and mistress were both as kind an<l gen- 
erous towards me as I could reasonably expt'ct. ! sehl 

asked a favor of either of them, Imt it was readily grante.l. In 
conse(|uence of wliich I had it in my power, in m;iny mstaiiees, 
to administer aid and ivfreshmeut t(. the |.o..r prisoners of mv 
nation, who werebi'ought into St. John's durnig my abode in 
the family of the above mentioned bt-nevoleiit and lio<pit;il.le 
baccapec. Yet even in this faniily, such trials awaited me as 



152 CAPTIVITY OF MRS. HOWE, 1755. 

I had little reason to expect ; but stood in need of a large stock 
of prudence, to enable me to encounter them. In this I was 
greatly assisted by the governor, and Colonel Schuyler, who was 
then a prisoner. 1 was moreover under unspeakable obligations 
to the governor on another account. I had received intelligence 
from my daughter Mary, the purport of which was, that there 
was a prospect of her being shortly married to a young Indian 
of the tribe of St. Francois, with which tribe she had continued 
from the beginning of her captivity. These were heavy 
tidings, and added greatly to the poignancy of my other 
afflictions. 

However, not long after I had heard this melancholy 
news, an opportunity presented of acquainting that humane 
and generous gentleman, the commander-in-chief, and my 
illustrious benefactor, with this affair also, who, in compassion 
for my sufferings, and to mitigate my sorrows, issued his 
orders in good time and had my daughter taken away from 
the Indians, and conveyed to the same nunnery where her 
sister was then lodged, with his express injunction, that they 
should both of them together be well looked after, and care- 
fully educated, as his adopted children. In this school 
* * * * they continued while the war in those 
days between France and Great Britain lasted. At the con- 
clusion of which war, the governor went went home to France, 
took my oldest daughter along with him, and married her 
there to a French gentleman, whose name is Cron Lewis. 

He was at Boston with the fleet under Count de Estaing, 
(1778) and one of his clerks. My other daughter still con- 
tiiuiing in the nunnery, a considerable time had elapsed after 
my return from captivity, when I made a journey to Canada, 
resolving to use my best endeavors not to return without her. 
1 arrived just in time to prevent her being sent to France, She 



CAPTIVITY OF MRS. HOWE, 1755. 153 

was to have gone in the next vessel that sailed for that place. 
And I found it extremel}' difficult to prevail with her to quit 
the nunnery and go home with me. Yea, slie ahsolutely 
refused ; and all tlie persuasions and arguments ] could use 
with her were to no eflPect, \nitil after 1 had been to the 
governor, and obtained a letter from him to the superintendent 
of the nuns, in which he threatened, if my daughter should 
not be delivered immediately into my hands, or could not be 
prevailed with to submit to my parential authority, that he 
would send a band of soldiers to assist me in bringing her 
away. 

But so extremely bigoted was she to the customs and 
religion of the place, that after all, she left it with the greatest 
reluctance, and the most bitter lamentations, which she con- 
tinued as we passed the streets, and wholly refused to be 
comforted. My good friend. Major Small, whom we met on 
the way, tried all he could to console her ; and was so very 
kind and obliging as to bear us company, and carry my 
daugliter behind him on horseback. But 1 liav(^ run on a 
little before my story ; for I have not yet inlbniied you of the 
means and manner of my own redemption ; to the accom- 
plishment of which, the recovery of my daughter, just 
mentioned, and tlie ransoming of som(M)f my children, several 
gentlemen of note contrilnited not a little ; to whose goodne.'^s. 
therefore I am greatly indebted, and sincerely hope I shall 
never be so ungrateful as to forget it. 

Colonel Schuyler, in j)articular, was so very kind :inil 
generous as to advance 27(10 livres to procure a ransom for 
myself and three children. He accompanied and conducted 
us from Montreal to Albany, and entertained us ni the ino>t 
triendly and hos[)itable manner a considerable time at iiis 
own house, and I believe entirely at his (»\vn ex[)enwe. 



A Pioneer's Hardships. 

Perhaps no better example of the hardships suffered by 
the early pioneers can he ol)tained than the recital of the ex- 
periences of Noadiah Hubbard, a man of rare individuality, 
})luck and natural ability. In 1S53 he thus wrote of his early 
experiences : 

I first came to this town, Chamjuon, in the year 1797, 
with Lemuel Storrs, a large landholder, when he came on for 
tlie first time to view his purchase. I was then residing in 
Steuben, in what is now Oneida County, but then, or shortly 
before, Herkimer. Mr. Storrs then hired several pack men, 
whose business it was to carry the necessary provisions for the 
expedition on their ])acks. This was late in the autumn. We 
traveled on foot by wliat was called the French Road to the 
High Falls on the lUack River. Tliis n.ad had l)eei. cut f..r 
the acconunodation of the French refugees who had made a 
settlement at High Falls, and liad then a log city. Many of 
these French belonged to the nobility of France, who were 
obliged to al)aiidon tlieii- eouiitry during tlie revolution in 
17iK>, but wlio were afterwards permitted to return when the 
star of empire rose upon the Bonapartes, Their settlement 



A pioneer's hardships. 15;-^ 

u-asmado upon wliat was called the French Tract en the 
north and east side of the Black River, and extending a great 
distance. From tlie High Falls we descended the river in a 
boat to the rapids, called Long Falls, nou" known as ("arthagv. 
Here we landed, and in two days explored the (ownship, tluMi 
an uid)roken wilderness. On our way down, Silas Stow,' tlu-n 
a young man, and afterward known\is Judge Stow, of h,»\v- 
ville, joined us. ()n the third day we re-embarked and 
proceeded up the river, and it was two days hard rowing to 
get back again to High Falls. As I believe I before mentioned, 
It was late in November, and the night we were obliged to be 
out, we encountered a severe snow storm. To protect ourselves 
from it in some measure, we made a shanty by setting up 
some crotches, and laying on poles, and covering tliem with 
hemlock boughs. We also scattered branches upon the ground 
upon which to lie, and by making a rousing hre in fn.nt of 
our shelter, we contrived to be very comfortable. By this time 
our provisions were nearly exhausted, and we hail before us 
the prospect of a liungry day. Bnt in ascending the river we 
fortunately killed a duck and a partridge ; these being stripped 
of their feathers in the evening, I cooked them for oui' break- 
fast the next morning. I prepared them as nicely as we could 
with our scanty means ; salt we had none. 1 had a little poi-k 
loft ; this I cut in small bits and inserted into the Ihsh of the 
fowls, when it served the double i)urj)()se of salt, and hiittcr lor 
i-»asting. To eook them I set nj. a couple of crotched sticks, 
laid anotiier acnjss. and tVom it by strips of hark suspended 
my f .wis l.efoix' the lire, where they cooked most heantihillv, 
and wei'e all in good time i)artaken of by the coiii|,aiiy with 
rare relisli. Indee<l, Messrs. Storrs and Stow declared they had 
never eaten so good. Hunger and a linn'ted supply gave a 
keenness of relish not often expei'ienced. 



156 A pioneer's hardships. 

In due time we arrived safe and well in Steuben, from 
whence we had started, where I passed the winter. Mr. Storrs 
offered me very liberal inducements to come on here and ac- 
cept them, though I may say in passing and then dismiss the 
subject forever, that he failed to fulfill his liberal offers. But in 
consideration of those offers, I left my home in Steuben the 1st 
of June, 179S, and started for this place, accompanied by 
Salmon Ward and David Starr, with fifteen head of cattle. 
We traveled again upon the French road, as far as it availed 
us. This township had been surveyed by Benjamin and 
Moses Wright, the year before, and this year Mr. Storrs had 
engaged B. W. to survey Hounsfield, and on his way there he 
was to mark a road to this place, and to precede me. I met 
the surveyors agreeably to appointment at a Mr. Hoadley's, 
and from there we came on to what is called Turin Four 
Corners. There was only one log house there then. From 
there we went west about thirty or forty rods to Zaccheus 
Higby's. There we laid down our maps and consulted them, 
and came to the conclusion to take from thence a north course. 
This led us upon to the top of a hill, now known as the Tug 
Hill. We were entirely ignorant of the face of the country, 
and of the most eligible route to })ursue, and therefore took the 
one which seemed the most direct, not knowing the obstacles 
to be encountered. We had l)efore come down by water, and 
on this route there was not even a marked tree. It was the 
duty of the survc\vors to pi-ecede us, mark a road and chain it. 
Mr. W. started in advance of us for this purpose. It was a 
beautiful, clear morning and we followed on, progressing 
finely until tlie middle of tlic afternoon, when Ave came to a 
gulf, and an abundaiiee of marked trees. We went over the 
gulf Ijut could find no more trees marked. Wc^ then made a 
fire and took out the stoppings from oui' bells, and suifered 



A pioneer's hardships. 157 

our cattle to feed around the fire, while we set ourselves to 
search for marked trees, over the gulfs and up and down, but 
could find no place to cross, or marks by which to determine 
what course the surveyors had taken. In this predicament 
we })repared to construct a shelter for the night of hemlock 
1 )0ughs. 

The next morning the sun came up clear and bright, and 
I called a council. I told the men how much damage it would 
be to me to return, how great a loss not to proceed, and asked 
them if they were willing to come on. David Starr replied 
that ho would go to li — 1, if I would. Though no way desirous 
of going to the latter place, even in good company, I deter- 
mined to come on, if such, a thing Avere possible, without a 
compass or guide. We then set ourselves to work, and felled 
trees, with which we made an enclosure, into which we drove 
our cattle, and then shoved them down the precipice, one after 
another ; they went up slantingly on the other side, and much 
better than we got tliem down, so tluit finally they were all 
safely over, after much toil and trouble. 1 then agreed to 
pilot tlie company down, took otf the ox bell; and carried it in 
my hand, leading the way, and steered a north course by the 
sun and watch. We had the advantage of a bright sunshine. 
We had to cross a number of gulfs, and one windfall, which 
was the worst of all. We continued to travel upon the sum- 
mit of the hill, where we found much fine table land. The 
caUlc would travel as last as F could lead the way. One man 
drove them, and aiiolher followed, axe in hand, to niaik the 
trees, and leave ti'accs Ix'hind us, so that if we couM not ad- 
vance, we could trace oui' steps. 

We descended the hill l)ef()re ivaehing Deer River. The 
latter we struck and crossed above the falls — not far from 
where the village of Copenhagen now stands — and coming on, 



158 A pioneer's hardships. 

we succeeded in finding the town line, which was identified l)y 
marked trees, not far from where the toll-gate now is, on the 
Champion and Copenhagen Plank Road. We then changed 
our course, following the line to the Black River, at Long- 
Falls, where we arrived before night. We there found Mr. W. 
and men. They had not arrived more than an hour before 
us. When seeing us, Mr. W. exclaimed : 

"How, in the name of God, have you got here? " I re- 
plied : 

"You scoundrel! you ought to be burnt for leaving 

us so !" 

It was a most rascally piece of business, their leaving us 
as they did. But I suppose the truth was, they tliouglit it 
impossible for us ever to get through with ..ur cattle : l>iit this 
does not excuse them for not having marke<l the road ; 'twas 
for that they were sent— and if others could not follow, they 
were not answerable ; but their duty was plain before them. 

My boat, which I had dispatched from the High Falls, 
soon after arrived, with my provisions, yokes, chains, and 
cooking utensils. The next day we left one to watch our 
effects, while the others were searching for a desirable location. 
In a few days I selected the farm upon which I now live, 
principally for the reason that it was the centre of the town- 
ship, rather than for any peculiar advantages it possessed over 
other portions of the town. Yet the soil has i.r(.ved good, and 
sufficiently luxuriant with proper cnhivalinn. This was what 
I sought, a good agricultural location, rather than one possess- 
ing hydraulic privileges. 

Not one tree had been cut here for the pu]-i)Ose of making 
a settlement, nor was there a white man settled in what is now 
the county of Jefferson, when I came here. I was the first 
white settler in the county. I remained here through the 



A PIONEER S HARDSHIPS. 159 

summer, and until October, engaged in making a eleai'ing. 
We then returned to Steuben, where my family was, to spend 
the winter. 

During the summer, some families had come into Low- 
ville, and Mr. Storrs hud caused a road to be marked from 
there to the Long Falls, and by that we returned, driving our 
cattle home again. These had become fat, by running in the 
woods, during the summer, and I sold them for beef. 1 would 
mention here, though rather out of place, that I found a living 
spring of pure water, a few rods before where the public house, 
in Champion, now stands, which had its influence in deciding 
my location. Near it I built my first house, and there I kept 
" bachelor's hall " two summers, being myself "chief cook." 
My first habitation was a cabin, erected in a few hours' time, 
with the aid of my men. It was a rude structure, but served 
our purpose. AVe first set some posts, and then, having felled 
great trees, stripped them of the bark, and, with this, covered 
the roof and three sides of our dwellhig, the front was left 
opened, so that it may truly l)e said, we kept 0])en house. The 
covering was kept firmly in its i)lace l)y witbes of bark, .\fter 
the completion of our house, tlie next most necessary thing, 
was an oven, in which to bake our bread, for bread wo must 
have, it being the stafi' of life. This was soon made, with two 
logs for a foundation, and a flat stone thereon, the super- 
structure was soon ivared with smaller stones, eementeil 
together by a mortar of muck, from the side of the spring, and 
crowned by a Hat stone. This answei'ed my |»ui-pose as well as 
one of more elaborate construction. For a door, wesphl oii( ;i 
l)lank of basswood ; and for a kneading-trough, we again Iirnl 
recourse to the basswood, from whence we cut a log of thi' 
required length and dimensions, split it, anil IVum one half, 
dug out, with an axe, and an instrument named a howell, 



1(30 A pioneer's HAKDSTilPS. 

which we had brought for such purposes, m a short time, A 
trough, which answered our purpose very well. I brought 
some yeast with me, to make my first batch of bread ; after 
that, I used leaven, kept and prepared after directions given 
me by my wife, before leaving home. Whatever may be said 
of our cooking, in general, I am sure none ever seemed sweeter 
to me, or was eaten with a better relish by others ; labor 
sweetened every mouthful. We had cows and plenty of milk. 
We sometimes washed dishes, when we could not remember 
what we last ate upon them, but oftener turned theni the 
bottom side up, there to remain until wanted again. Some 
even pretend to say, that when our table needed scouring, we 
sprinkled salt upon it, and put it out for the old cow to operate 
upon. However that may be, I am sure, if we ever did do it, 
it must have come from under her scouring apparatus exceed- 
ingly white. But the whole story is rather aprocryphal. 

Early in the spring, 1799, I sent on two men, to make 
sugar, before I came on myself. They commenced making 
sugar, and one day went out hunting, leaving their sugar 
boiling. The consequence was, the house took fire and burned 
down, with all of the little it contained. During the winter, 
the Indians had stolen all the cooking utensils I had left, and 
the potatoes which I ha<l raised, and buried the autumn before. 
Thus my riches were taking to themselves wings, and flying 
awav. I came on soon after. This spring. Esquire ^lix and 
fomily came on ; John and Thomas Ward, Ephraim Cham- 
berlain, Samuel and David Starr, Jotham Mitchell, Salmon 
Ward and Bela Hubbard, David Miller, and Boutin, a 
Frenchman, came to Carthage. The above were all young, 
unmarried men, save Mix. We continued our labors through 
the summer of 1799, but not with that spirit which we should 
have done, had not a rumor reached us of the failure of Mr. 



A i'TO\K|.:i;,*,s ii.\i;i)si!i)'s. jcj 

Storrs, and tlio probalnlity that we slu.ul.l lose, lu.t onlv all 
our labor, but the money Mdiich I had advanced for my land 
But I will not enter into particulars here— let it suffice that I 
could not afford to lose all I had done and paid, and conse- 
quently entered into a compromise with him, to save a moiety 
of what was justly mine— of not only what I had actuallv paid 
for, but of what I was to have had, for leading the way in this 
first settlement of a new country, and subjecting myself again 
to all Its discomforts and inconveniences. Consequently, in 
view of making this my permanent home, I moved my faiiiily 
here in the autumn of 1799. Wo had a very unfavorable 
time, to come. There had been a snow storm, in which about 
SIX inches of snow had fallen. We were obliged to (ravel on 
horseback, the horses' feet balled badly ; we had sloughs to go 
through, and altogether, it was very uncomfortable traveling 
m that manner, with children. We arrived at Mr. Hoadley's 
the first night, and our ox-teams and goods the next day. 
From there, we came to the High Falls, where I had a boat 
awaiting us, which 1 had caused to l)e built for my own use. 
Here we embarked with all our goods and cliattels, <,f all 
kinds, loading the boat to its utmost capacity, so that when all 
were in, it was only about four inches out of water. 

We spent one night at the Lowville landing, wheiv a 
family were living. During the evening, there came in a 
number of men, wet, cold and huiigiy. Among (licm, was 
one named Smith. He went to pull olf (he boots ..f one of Ids 
companions, wliich was very wet aii<l cbngiiig dose. Ilr 
pulled with all his miglit— the other bniciiig himself against 
liim as firmly as possible. All at once, and with unexpected 
suddeness, the boot came off, and poor Smith was si'iit wit I 
bare feet, into a bed of live coals. There was botl 
dancing for one while. 



IS 



162 A pioneer's hardships. 

AVe arrived at the Long Falls, about noon, the second 
day from our embarkation. The weather had by this time 
become warm and pleasant. Our oxen arrived soon after by 
land, we unloaded our boat, put our wagon together, loaded it 
with some of our effects, set otf, and, before night, reached our 
" wilderness home.' My wife said in view of the difficulties 
in getting here, that if she had anything as good as a cave to 
live in, she would not return in one year at least. She, of 
choice, walked from the Falls here, a distance of four miles 
through the forest. We arrived on the 17th of Nov., 179i). 
The vveatlier continued pleasant until the 27th, when it com- 
menced snowing, the river soon froze over, the snow, of which 
a great quantity fell, and continuing to fall, lasted all winter, 
and we were entirely cut off from all intercourse with the 
world. 1 kept fifteen head of cattle through the winter, by 
browsing them, and they wintered well. Isolated though we 
were, yet I never passed a more comfortable winter. We had 
a plenty of provisions ; my wheat, I had raised here, a very 
tine cro}) from seed sown in the autumn of 1798, and my poi'k, 
etc., was fattened in ' >neida (Jounty, and brought here by boat. 
And take it altogether, 1 ))erliaps settled this country as easy 
as any one ever settled a new country, as completely isolated 
<;s this w;;s at that time, and easier than I settled in Steuben, 
IS miles from Utica. At that time we had to go to I'tica or 
W'hitesborDUgh for provisions, and it always took one day to 
go out, and another to rtiturn, increclible as it may now seem. 
in the spring of ISOO, peoi)le began to tlock into the country 
hy hnndreds, and, as my log house afforded the only accom- 
modation for wayfaring men, we were obliged to keej) them, 
whether we would or no ; sometimes, and that very often, my 
floors were sti'ewn with human beings as tliiek as they could 
lie, some so near th(> huge fire place as not to i)ass unscoi'ched ; 



A pioneer's PIARDSIIIl'S. 1 63 

one man in particular, it was said by his coniiianions. luid liis 
head baked, by too close a proximity to the oven. This rush 
continued two or three years, and was full ot incident and 
interest, but at this distance of time -^ can not recall these in- 
cidents with sufficient accuracy to detail them here. The 
town settled rapidly with an intelligent and energetic class of 
people. The society was good ; it might be called good any 
where. Perhaps there was never a more intelligent and 
interesting people congregated together in an obscure little 
inland town, than in this, within a few years from its first 
settlement. I can not state the order of time in which they 
came, but the names of a few of them I will record, 
that in future time, when this place shall have sunk into 
insignificance, as it too probably will, before the greater lights 
arising around it, it may be known that we were once honored 
by having in our midst such men as Egbert Ten Eyck, after- 
wards first judge of the court, who was then a young lawyer, 
and married here, to one of our beautiful maidens; Olney 
Pearce and wife, Hubbel and wife, Judge Moss Kent, brotlu'r 
of the late chancellor, Henry R. Storrs, who opened an oflice 
here, and afterwards became one of the most distinguishctl 
lawyers of the state. Dr. Baudry, a Frenchman, Di-s. Durkcc 
and Farley, and many others, too numerous to mention, as 
well as many ladies of grace and beauty, whom it would be 
invidious now to [)articularize. Common schools \vci-c soon 
established. Religious me(^tings were held on llie S;d>l»a(h. 
aftei- old Deacon Carter came into the town, and in a very few- 
years, I think as early as 1805, the Rev. Nathaniel Dulton 
came. He was sent out by some missionary society at the 
east, to form churches in this western world, and coming to 
this ])lace, was invited to remain, which h(> did, and continuei] 
here until the close of his valuable life, in Sept. IS.". "J. and for 



1h4 



A PIONKEK S HARDSHIP.*!. 



tlie greater part of that time was tlie pastor of the Congrega- 
tional church, which tlourished under his ministrations, and 
enjoyed many powerful revivals of religion. 



Folk=Stories. 

The following stories, some of them worn threadbare in a 
past generation will come back to oldei- readers like the sweet 
voice of a bird in the desert. What memories the almost-for- 
gotten anecdote revives! Golden vision of days when the 
heart was young, and sympathy, ])Ui'c, deep and tearful ruled 
the soul. A sympathy that wept with the new homesick 
puppy ; released the imj)risoned motlier hen fussing in her 
coop, or removed the })ebble from a struggling shoot. The 
simple, unselfish mind of a child that makes a confident of 
the domestic animals, and gives the creeping vine a lielping 
hand to a new or firmer hold. A sympathy alas! all too soon 
hardened by experience and self interests. 

Every person had, as a child, his or her favorite story 
told over and again, and at each re})etition a new scene was 
mirrored upon the curtain of childish imagination. 'Hie good 
old story of how a chief tested the (■oiilidcnce of a leading col- 
onist has gotten into print and is thus delightfully I'datcil in 
Pansy, though differing slightly in detail. 

H.\N YKHKV. 

Old Ilan Yerry, was an Indian rhief of the Oiici.la tribe, 
who lived in the northei'ii part of New York Slate a hundred 



166 FOLK-STORIES. 

years ago. He had fought with the king's party against the 
colonists ; but, after the war, when Judge White came to found 
the town of Whitesborough, he sought to make friends with 
them. The judge was the first white man to form a settle- 
ment there. He was surrounded by Indians, but was kind 
and good, and soon won their love. He lived in a small log 
house, with his married daughter and a little grandchild, who 
was about two or three years old. 

One day, old Han Yerry, with his squaw and a mulatto 
servant, came from Oriskany, three miles away, to 'pay the 
judge a visit and renew their friendship. Before going, the 
chief said : 

" I like you and have confidence in you. Do you like 
me and have you confidence in me? " To which the judge 
replied warmly that he liked him and had confidence in him. 

" Then prove it to me, " said the old chief, " My squaw 
loves your papoose. Let us take her back to remain all night. 
I will return with her in the morning. " 

The baby's poor mother sat speechless with terror at the 
thought of trusting her darling to these savages, and, as she 
saw signs of yielding in her father's face, threw herself dis- 
tractedly at his feet. Without looking at her distress, he gen- 
tly took the child from her close embrace, and told her she 
had nothing to fear from their good friends, who would surely 
bring her back sately and well. Then, placing the child in 
the squaw's arms, lie said : " I trust to my friends all tliat I 
hold most dear. " 

Though he looked calm and smiling, he deeply felt the 
sacrifice he was called upon to make in order to save the col- 
onists, who would have perished had the request been re- 
fused. 

All night they kept vigil, and in the first gray light of 



FOLK -ST OKIES. 1()7 

(lawn strained their eyes np the road for sion of aiiv liuinaii 
l)eino- ; but there was none. The hours eaiiic and went — inton, 
afternoon. Still no sign. In silence and prayer, with (hirk 
foreboding, they kept wateli. Sometimes the poor mother, 
through grief and fear, would try to lush up the road in 
search of her darling, l)ut was restrained by hei' jathei-. who 
knew that such a breach of contidence would cause its death 
and that of the defenseless settlers, while reliance on their 
word would increase friendliness. So, hand in hand, they 
waite<l. 

At last, as the sun sank behind the hills, some figures a|)- 
peared in the distance. Almost breathlessly tliey observed 
them approach. As they drew nearer, with a cry of delight, 
the keen eyes of the mother saw Blossom perched on the 
shoulders of the old chief, dressed out in all the gorgeousiu'ss 
of an Indian princess, instead of her own little clothes, smiling 
and happy, as if she had had the best of times, as indeed was 
the case ; for the Indians had been very kind and tender in 
their efforts to amuse the little " Pale Flower. "" 

Judge White was wise to show thi' Indians this great 
trust, for they never forgot it. From that time they did all 
they could to aid the wliite settlers at Sedaghquate, aiterward 
called Whitesborough. and to show their love and respe<-t for 
them. 



A COUKT OF RECORD. 



An act was passed, April, LSOG, directing thivt leiins of 
the court of common pleas to be hel(l in .Jefferson and Lewis 
counties. Tradition savs, that, after ftirmal adjourmeiit. tlie 



168 FOLK-STORIES. 

first court, which was held in the school house, on the ground 
now covered by the Universalist Church, became a scene of 
tun and frolic, which has since been seldom equaled. The 
greater i)art of the settlers were young or middle aged men, 
some indulged in habits of intemperance ; the custom of the 
day did not discountenance practical joking, and athletic 
games were invariably the accompaniment of all gatherings. 
Moreover they had been just organized, and must have 
business for their courts, else what the need of having courts? 
Should any one evince a disinclination to join in these pro- 
ceedings, they were accused of "sneakism, " and arraigned be- 
fore a mock tribunal, where, guilty or not guilty, the penalty 
of a " quarter, " was sure to be imposed for the benefit of the 
crowd. Among other charges w^as one against Esq. H., of 
Rutland, a man of very sober and candid character, who was 
charged with stealing. Conscious of innocence, he offered to 
be searched, when a quantity of dough was found in both 
pockets of his coat. Thus implicated by circumstances which 
he could not explain, he was fined. Another was accused of 
falling asleep, and fined a shilling, and another was fined a 
like sum for smoking in the court room. After paying the 
penalty, ho resumed his pipe, and was again arraigned, when 
he entered his plea that the fine was for a pipe full, which he 
had not finished, an<l this afforded a subject of legal argument 
for discussion, that elicited the research and ability of the 
lawyers present. As tlu^ avowed intention was to make busi- 
ness for all the new officers, one was stripi)ed ;iii(l laid out on 
a board, loosely covered with a cloth, and a coroner sent for, 
who commenced a bona fide examination, that was interrupted 
by some one tipping over the board, when the "subject" of 
tlie hoax jumped up and fled. There had not thus far been 
any business for the sheriff, but this was at length macle, by 



FOLK-STORIES. 1(39 

their finding one who had crept into the oarrot for conceal- 
ment. He was dragged before their tril.mial. wlicrc it was 
decided that his failing was a disease, rather tliaii a criiiic, and 
required a specific. This carnival was coiitimird the second 
day, and although the officers of tlie court aircctcd to al.slain 
from these frohcs, yet judicial dignity oifcml n<. cxmipti.in 
from them, and all parties, whether willing or unwilling, were 
compelled to join. Companies, distinguished by i)erson'al pc- 
cuUarities, were paraded under officers selected iv.r tlic pi'onn- 
nence of these traits, as " long noses, " etc., while the little 
short men were organized into a party and charged with tlie 
duty of "keeping the cats ofi". " These follies may be con- 
sidered puerile, but not more so than the annual carnival in 
some European countries, and their record is interesting from 
illustrating the custom of the times, when athletic games were 
fashionable, and men seldom met in numbers witliont havinu 
"a regular train. " 



A MKiHTY NI^rROD. 

The following encounter witli a panllier, in IS]!), was 
related by Jairus Rich, the hunter: It occurred near ilvde 
Lake, about three miles tVom the village of I'lessis. lie had 
Sethis traps for wolves, and had anivcd within a few rods of 
one of them, when he observed a panther -.|,i'ing up and run 
with a trap to one (.f his hind legs. lie hivd. but missed the 
mark, and his game made off into the thi(d<et. when he 
returned to a house nearly a nn'le distant. j.i-ocnre(l a small 
dog, and having again ivpaii-ed to the place, and slalioiied 



170 FOLK-STORIES. 

himself where he could start the entrapped animal, he ob- 
served the head of a panther emerge from the bushes about 
tive rods distant, upon which he fired and killed him instantly. 
He soon found that this was not the one in the trap, and a 
heavy shower of rain coming on, he found it difficult to load 
his ritle again, which he at length did. The dog, meanwhile, 
had engaged the other panther, upon which he tired and 
wounded him, and finding he could not reload, on account of 
the rain, he threw down his piece, and seizing his hatchet, 
sjirung u|)on him, when there ensued a fearful stri>ggle, in 
wliich, finally, the beast got under, with one of the man's 
liands in his mouth ; the hatchet was lost, but with the other 
hand he drew from his pocket a knife, opened it wdth his 
teeth, and finally succeeded in cutting the throat of the 
ferocious animal. The hunter was badly torn, but made 
out to crawl to tlie nearest house, where, after many weeks, he 
recovered, but carrie(l the scars of the contiict with him to the 
gi'ave. The bounties for the destruction of wild animals were 
then so great, that the inducements for gain led to ingenious 
measures for securing the rewards, and it is related of the same 
])ei-son, that having trailed a she wolf to her den, and killed 
her, he found in the cave ten young whelps, but too small to 
be entitled to the bounty. He accordingly built a pen in the 
forest, and fed them daily upon wild meats which he obtained 
in hunting, until tluy were grown. He became strongly at- 
tached to one of them, who would follow him Hke a dog, but 
the temptation of |50 was too strong to resist, and he slew his 
fa vorite pet to gain the premium. This breeding wolves for 
the market,liad its par.dlel in an instance in tnis town, in which 
a hunter, to gain tlie reward that might be offered for the 
secret, ])rofessed to know of a salt spring, to which he was in- 
duced to conchict a certain p(>rson, and in which he had a little 



FOLK-STORIES. 171 

previous . buried a bag of salt. The water l)eiiig duly 
" analyzed," by measuring, evaporating, and weighing, a 
purchase of nearly 800 acres was made, without a knowledge 
of the spring by the landholder, nor was the trick discovered 
before the bargain had been sealed and the sale perfected. 



A SURVEYING INCIDENT. 

Charles C. Brodhead, a native of Pennsylvania, had held 
the rank of captain in the Revolution, and while performing 
a survey, encountered many hardships. An obituary notice 
published soon after his death, which occurred in 1853, at 
Utica, contained the following : 

" In running the great lines of division his party had 
crossed the Black River several times, the men and instru- 
ments being ferried across. On one occasion when they had 
approached the river, having journeyed through the woods 
without noting their route by the compass, they arrived at a 
part of the bank which they recognized, and knew to be a safe 
I)lace of passing. Making a raft of logs, they started from the 
bank, and began to pole across. When in the mid.st of the 
current their poles failed to reach the bottom, and simultaneous 
wath this discovery, the noise of the waters below them revealed 
the horrid fact that they had mistaken their ferrying {)]ace, 
and were at the head and rapidly approaching the Great Falls 
of the river, the passage of which threatened all but certain 
death. Instantly Mr. B. ordered every man who could swim 
to make for the shore, and he prepared to swim for his own 
life. But the piteous appeals of Mr. Pharoux, a young l^'rench- 



172 FOLK-STORIES. 

man of the party, who could not swim, arrested him, and he 
determined to remain with him to assist him, if possible, in 
the awful passage of the falls. Plastily directing his men to 
grasp firmly to the logs of the raft, giving similar directions 
to Mr. Pharoux, he then laid himself down by the side of his 
friend. The raft passed the dreadful falls and was dashed to 
pieces. Mr. Pharoux with several of the whites and Indians 
was drowned, and Mr. Brodhead himself thrown into an eddy 
near the shore, whence he was drawn almost senseless by an 
Indian of the party." The body of Pharoux afterwards was 
found on a small island at the uiouth of the river to which his 
name was given. Mr. LeRay caused to be prepared a marble 
tablet to be inserted in the rocks here, with the following 
inscription : 

" To the memory of Peter Pharoux, this Island is con- 
secrated." 



A MAN-TKAP SMUGCiLING. 

Ill ISOS, i\ party of militia, under Captain Timothy 
Tiimblin, was stationed near the intersection of the two great 
roads leading into St. Lawrence County, a mile north of the 
village of Antwerp, to prevent smuggling under the cml)argo 
law. There was much opposition both in theory and [iractice 
to this law. An instance is related in which a practical joke 
of a somewhat serious nature, was played off upon one of these 
guardians of the national wellfare. A person to whom the law 
was odious, having set a trap in his sleigh, and placed around 
it a loading calculated to convey the impression that they 



FOLK-STORIES. 173 

were smuggled goods approached the guard, but warned those 
on duty to keep away from his load, or they would get into 
trouble. Not deterred by this threat, one of the guard pro- 
ceeded rudely to overhaul the sleigh, to ascertain its contents, 
and was soon convinced that it at least concealed a trap, for it 
sprung upon his hand, at which the driver gave reins to his 
team and drove off exclaiming: 

" Fve caught a Democrat ! " 

During the war, a company of regular troops was stationed 
a little north of Antwerp village, to prevent smuggling into 
the country from Canada. The inducements which led to this 
were so strong, that much ingenuity was exercised in evading 
the vigilance of sentinels, and sometimes with great success. 
Five or six sleigh loads of tea had on a certain occasion been 
got to within three or four miles of Antwerp, having passed 
thus far without suspicion as the tea was packed in bags, 
like grain on its way to market. To evade the military guard 
that obstructed the road, the following stratagem was adopted: 
Captain B. who had charge of the company, was invited to a 
whist party at Cook's tavern, three miles north of Antwerp, 
at which place, during the evening, a large party of boys and 
young men assembled, with no apparent object but to spend 
the evening in carousing, drinking and card playing. Brandy 
circulated freely, and the revels continued till a late hour in 
tlic night, wlicn the captain and his party set out to return in 
asleigli closely followed by the loads of tea, thickly covered 
by a disorderly crowd, who by singing, sliouting quarreling, 
and figliting, made the night hideous with unearthly discords, 
and would readily pass as a half drunken rabble returning 
from a midnight revel. The captain, who was himself rather 
more than half intoxicated, entered with spirit into the nierri- 



174 FOLK-STORIES. 

meiit of the others, and as the train approached the sentinels, 
he shouted : 

"It's Captain B., let my company pass." 

The order was obeyed, and the disorderly mob passed on, 
and having got beyond reach of danger, they left the teams to 
pursue their course in quiet, and in due time boasted of the 
success of their stratagem. 



CORRUPT POLITICIANS. 

At the annual town meeting in 1820, which was held at 
Perch River, after electing a portion of the officers, the meeting 
adjourned to the house of Edward Arnold, on Penet Square, 
until the next day. This measure created much excitement, 
and those living in the southern and eastern portions of the 
town, rallied w\\h all their forces, attended promptly at the 
earliest moment of the adjourned meeting, organized, and im- 
mediately voted another adjournment to the house of Elias 
Bennet at Brownville village, on the afternoon of the same 
day, where the vote for town clerk was reconsidered, and the 
remaining officers elected, Being thus roVjbed of their town 
meeting, the settlers on Penet's Square and in distant locali- 
ties, demanded a separate organization, which was readily 
consented to, and all parties having met at an informal meet- 
ing, or convention, at the village, agreed upon a petition to 
the legislature, which was acted upon, before another town 
meeting. The foregoing is a concise statement of the act of 
'■' stealing a town meeting," which gave rise to much talk at 
the time, and about which many fabulous stories have been 



FOLK-STORIES. 



175 

as 



related. It is said that this heinous crime of r(.l)l)ery w. 
made the subject of a painting, that formed a part of a travel- 
ing exliil)ition. 



(xENERAL JACOR RROWN. 

Brownville was first explored, with a view of settlem<nt. 
by General Jacob Brown, who while teaching school in New 
York, had met with Rodolph Tillier, the general agent for the 
ChassLinis lands, and was induced to purchase a large tract, 
and become the agent for commencing a settlement, at a time 
when the difficulties attending such an enterprise were verv 
great. Plaving engaged in this business, he repaired in iM'b- 
ruary, 1799, to the location of the French company, at the 
Higli Falls, and inade several journeys to Utica, when, having 
comj.k'ted his arrangements, and collected provisions at the 
Long Falls, he in March, 1799, passed down the old French 
road, in company with three or four hired men, and hai)pening 
to reach the river at the mouth of Philomel Creek, he was 
charmed with the [)rospect of a water power, apj)arently 
perennial, and at once decided upon stopping here. lie com- 
menced clearing land, having sent for hisfatlier's family, who 
started on the "i-jid of Aj.i'il, from Bucks County, Pa., and after 
stopping a few days at New York and Schenectady, and hiring 
at rtica an extra boat, at length arrived at the location on the 
17th of May, 1799, having been nearly three weeks on the 
road. George Brown, a rehitive, came on in tlu' same com- 
])any, with a i)art of his family, making, with the boatman, a 
l)arty of nearly twenty. The boatman soon returned, leaving 



176 POLK-STORIES. 

one boat that served the means for communication with Kings- 
ton, from wh'^nce they derived most of their provisions, the 
stock left at the Long Falls having been sold. When this 
company had arrived, the first had cleared a small piece, and 
got up the body of a log house, twenty feet square, which 
occupied the site of the hay scales on the edge of the bank, in 
the village, and the same season they put up the body of a 
two-story log house, 25 by 30, on the ground covered by 
the store of Wm. Lord. This was not, however, completed for 
occupation till the spring of 1801. In the fall of 1800 a saw 
mill was built at the mouth ot Philomel Creek, the millwrights 
being Noah Durrin and Ebenezer Hills, and late in the fall of 
1801 a grist mill was built for Mr. Brown, by Ethni Evans, 
afterwards the pioneer of Evans Mills. A few goods were 
brought on with the first family, but in the fall of the same 
year, Jacob Brown went to New York, on other business, and 
selected a small stock better adapted to the market. In 1799, 
a great number came in to look for lands, many of whom 
selected farms on Perch river, and between that place and 
Brownville, where they commenced small clearings, and made 
arrangements for removal with their families in the spring. 

In 1804, the question of forming one or more new coun- 
ties from Oneida, became the absorbing theme, and a convention 
was held at Denmark, Nov. 20, 1804, to decide upon the 
application, at which most of the delegates are said to have 
gone prepared to vote for one county, but from the influence 
of Mr. Brown, and Gen. Martin, of Martinsburg, wcrc' induced 
to apply for the erection of two new counties. In locating the 
county seat, the most active efforts were made in each county, 
Martinsburgh and Lowville being the rivals in Lewis, and 
Watertown and Brownville in Jefferson. Mr. Brown was the 
principal advocate of the latter, but the mass of settlement was 



FOLK-STORIKS. 177 

then in the southern towns, and the portion north of Black 
River was known to be low, level, and (in a state of nature) 
much of it swampy. The settlements that had been begun at 
that early day. at Perch River, Chaumont, and on the St. 
Lawi-ence, were visited by severe sickness, and the idea was 
entertained, or at least held forth to the commissioners who 
located the site, that it could never be inhabited. Mr. Brown 
next endeavored to procure the location on the north bank of 
the river, near Watertown, and made liberal offers of land, 
for the public use, but the perseverance and intrigues of Mr. 
Coffeen and others, succeeded in lixino' the site at its present 
location. 

After the opening of the land office at Le Raysville, Mr. 
Brown continued for two or three years devoted to his private 
affairs, and meanwhile received unsolicited, commissions of 
captain, and of colonel of the lOSth regiment of militia. Ilis 
promotion in the line of military life, is said to have arisen 
from his avowed aversion to frequent and expensive military 
pirades in time of peace, calling off the inhabitants from their 
labors in the fields, and encouraging habits of intemperance 
which in those days were too frequently the accompaniment of 
such gatherings. His views of the su])jcct of militia organiza- 
tions, approached more nearly to our juvsent system ; and in 
selecting him for office, the people were convinced, that while 
he omitted nothing conducive to the public safety, he would 
cause them no needless expense of time and money for parades. 
In his public and private conduct, and daily life, they saw him 
in possession of sagacity and intelligence, that led them to 
place confidence in his resources, should emergencies call for 
their exercise, and the integrity of his private life convinced 
them that the public trusts with which he might he honored, 
would be faithfully preserved. 



178 FOLK-STORIES. 

In the discharge of his official duties, General Brown re- 
moved to Washington in 1821, where he continued to reside 
until his death, which occurred February 24, 1828, from the 
effect of a disease contracted at Fort Erie. For some time 
previous, his physical powers had been impaired by a paralytic 
stroke. His death was announced to the army by an order of 
the secretary of war ; and the funeral ceremonies were per- 
formed with all the formality and dignity that his exalted 
rank required. 



A BLOCKHOUSE GRANARY. 

The inhabitants living on Perch River, on receiving the 
news of the war, were greatly alarmed from their supposed ex- 
posure on the frontier, and some of the timid ones resolved to 
leave the country. To dissuade them from this, it was pro- 
posed to build a blockhouse, wdiich was forthwith done by 
voluntary labor, but when completed, only served as a store- 
house for the wheat of a neighbor. Some, ridiculing the idea 
of danger, humorously jDroposed to post themselves on the 
brow of some of the limestone ledges towards Catfish Creek, in 
the direction of Canada, which would give them the double 
advantages of a commanding position, and an abundance of 
material for missiles, in case of attack. This had its effect, and 
after a few weeks' reflection the idea of Indian massacre was 
forgotten. It will be remembered that many of the older in- 
habitants had realized in their youth the horrors of Indian 
warfare and the tales of midnight massacre which they re- 
lated as they assembled on evenings for mutual safety, en- 



FOLK-STORIKS. 179 

hanced, in no small degree, this tiiuidity. Still the alarms 
which prevailed in this county wci'c lai' less than those that 
spread through the St. Lawrence settlements, and as after- 
wards appeared in Canada itself, \vher(> nearly every family 
along the river had l)een fugitives from the desolating hand 
of war, from their adherence to the royal cause in the revolu- 
tion. The apprehensions of l)oth i)arties soon sul)si(U' 1. and 
men resumed their customary pursuits, except when occa- 
sional drafts or general alarms, called out the militia, or the 
emergencies of the service required the assend)ling of teams 
for the transportation of munitions of war. Prices of i)i-o,luce 
were, of course, extremely high, and from the large amount 
of government money expended here, the basis of many for- 
tunes in the county were laid at that period. 



BURIED TRK.ASI'KE. 

The aboriginal remains of Ellisbuigh, have given occa- 
sion for the weak minded to believe that they were in some 
way concerned with buried treasures, and this being eonlirme(l 
by the supposed indications of the divining rod, led in early 
times to explorations for them, despite of the guardianship of 
the spirits of the nuu'dered. who according to the most ap- 
))roved demonologists of these speculations \\c\v in some in- 
stances charged with making money out of the credulous 
victims of superstition, by selling provisions, and in several 
instances, the diggers were almost frightened out of then- 
senses by ghosts and demons; some got Heeccd of substantial 
property in, pursuit of imaginary wealth, and others lost the 



180 



FOLK-STORIES. 



respect of sensible men by the favor with which they regarded 
these follies. On a certain occasion in preparing the enchanted 
circle for digging, a lamb was sacrificed to appease the guar- 
dian demons of the supposed treasure, but this act was gener- 
ally regarded as a sacrilege and did much towards bringing 
discredit upon these heathenish orgies. 



CUSTOMS TROUBLES. 

In September, 1808, an event occurred in Ellisburgh 
that created great excitement at the time. A party from Os- 
wego, under Lieut. Asa Wells, entered Sandy Creek, and after 
seizing a quantity of potash under the embargo laws, pro- 
ceeded to the house of Capt. Fairfield, surrounded it, and 
seized and carried away a swivel. Mr. F. being absent, his 
wife made complaint to a justice, who issued a warrant. The 
constable was intimidated and called upon his fellow citizens 
to aid him, when about thirty men took arms and went with 
him, but Wells' men presented bayonets, when they desisted, 
and twenty of the men went oflP. Lieut. Wells ordered the re- 
mainder to be disarmed and bound, when they were taken 
with the swivel to Oswego. On the evening of the 25th of 
September, the same party returned, as reported, for the pur- 
pose of taking the magistrate and constable who had issued 
the papers. A warrant against Wells and two others for felo- 
ny, in breaking open a house was issued at Sackets Harbor 
and given to Andrew Pease, a constable, to execute, who, af- 
ter examining tlie law, raised a hue and cry and assembled 
al)out 200 pei-sons in P^llisburgh, where a consultation of sev- 



FOLK-STORIKS. 1 S 1 

eral magistrates was held, and the iu>xt (hiy at suni-isc alxMit 
seventy or eighty men, arnu'd and e(|uij)i)cd, volunteercMl to 
aid in the arrest, but the magistrates durst not issue the order 
for their march, being apprehensive that some excess or in- 
jury might be done, and tlie (picstion having been raised 
whether a constabh^ had a right to (U'mand aid, Ijcfore he had 
been resisted, the armed men were advised to disperse, and 
the civil officer requested to proceed to ap|)r('Iicnd ^^\'l]s and 
the others, without the force of the county. This jtrocecding 
was charged by one of the political parties as an attempt of 
the other to resist by force of arms the execution of the laws, 
and mutual criminations were exchanged with nuui! bitter- 
ness. 



ri':TKR ri-iNKT. 

A tract of land, s(|uare in form, with the sides I'unuing 
coincident with the principal cardinal [)oints, and its noilh- 
W€st corner resting upon the St. Lawrence at the moutli of 
French Creek, is " Penet's S(|uare. " 

The revolution attracted to America many I'^icnch ad- 
venturers, says Hough, some of whom had nnich more to gain 
than to lose, and among these was one I'eter Tenet, of Nantes, 
France. He arrived at I'l-ovidence, K. I., by way of Cai.e 
Francois, (W. I.,) in Deeemlier, 177."), having letters and cre- 
dentials which at first secured him some attentions, and he ob- 
tained from a committee of congress a contract in the name of 
De Plaine, Penet & Co., for supplying a large amount of aims 
from France. He also made separate propositions to several 



1S2 FOLK-STORIEH. 

of the colonies for powder, arms and ordnance, in the execu- 
tion of which he proposed to ship a large amount of tobacco 
and other produce directly to France. He had various other 
speculations, all of which j^roved visionary, and it soon ap- 
peared that he was only a needy adventurer without capital 
or character. He succeeded in procuring advances, which 
were not accounted for, and he may be justly called " The 
Confidence Man " of the revolution. After the war he became 
an Indian trader and acquired a great ascendency among the 
( )neidas. When these people were holding a treaty with the 
state in 17S8 for the cession of their lands, it was found expe- 
dient to consult with him and to ask his aid in promoting 
these measures ; and as they were stipulating the reservations 
to be made for themselves and friends, he " dreamed " that 
they would give him a tract of land that he should locate some- 
where north of Oneida Lake. His dream was fulfilled in the 
gift of ten miles square, which bears his name, but before the 
grant was perfected he fled from the country and the title 
passed to a creditor for a consideration of five shillings. 

While operating upon the credulity of these simple 
people, he devised a plan of government for the Oneidas, that 
was to lead them to that perfection to which few civilized 
communities attain. The national afftiirs were to be managed 
by a Grand Council ; all differences were to be settled by 
persons eminently wise and just ; a tract of land was to be 
rented, and the revenues were to pay all public charges, of 
whatever amount ; no lands were ever to be alienated, and no 
cause of complaint was ever to arise. It was resolved, as the 
highest incentive to virtue, " that as soon as convenient 
material can be procured, eighteen proper marks of distinction 
shall be given ; three representing the tribe of the Bear ; three 
the tribe of the Wolf: and three the tribe of the Tortoise. 



FOLK-STORIES. 18o 

The marks of the chiefs of war was a green ribbon strijx'd on the 
side with red, to be worn on the left side Nine marks of dis- 
tinction for the chiefs of the coucillors, with the mark of an 
Eagle on a red ribbon, to go round the neck and hang be- 
tween the breasts. Be it renieinl)ered that thosi; chiefs, whether 
warriors or councillors, who wear this badge, must be men of 
truth, honor and wisdom to discharge the great trust of na- 
tional business now put in their hands, and whether at home 
or abroad, when these marks are seen, it will be remembered 
that they are this great council and great respect will at all 
times be shown them. " 

This scheme of government, comprising twenty articles, 
contemplated the appointment of Peter Penet, their " true and 
trusted friend, adopted and chosen agent forever, " as their 
principal executive agent, and being duly signed by marks 
(not one being able to read,) this state paper was published 
with great formality in the Albany newspapers. It is needless 
to add that it had not so much as a beginning of actual real- 
ization. 

Some time after Penet had al)Sconded, he made his 
appearance in San Domingo; at the time of the negi'o insur- 
rection there, he invited his countrymen to buy hinds on his 
estates in Northern New^ York. He exhibited a map with 
fortified cities, on the north shore of Oneida Lake, and by 
false representations, induced some to purchase hinds. One of 
these unfortunates, upon arriving in New York, and learning 
how cruelly he had been deceived, was unal)le tobear up undci- 
the affliction, and died by his own hand. It is from IV'nct 
that this place on the St. Lawrence derived the naiiic of 
" French Creek." 

The successors to his title selected the mile-scpiare nearest 
the river, as the site for a town, and caused it to l»e surveyed 



184 FOLK STORIES. 

into ten-acre squares, except the quarter of a mile directly upon 
the river, in which each of these lots were further sub-divided 
into four. It was afterwards laid out as the village of "Cor- 
nelia," (named from Madame Juhel,) but since the organization 
of the town of Clayton, in 1833, it has borne this name. 

In early times " French Creek " was a noted point for 
smuggling ; and especially in the embargo of 1807-8, when 
almost all of the region north of Black River was a forest, it 
became a principal point for importing goods, and for sending 
potash out of the country. It was found impossible to guard 
this frontier so as to prevent crossing with teams on the ice in 
w^inter, or by boats in summer, and the most that the author- 
ities attempted, was to guard the roads in the interior, and 
intercept such contraband goods as they could discover. 



A STEAMER BURNED. 

The most disastrous accident that ever occurred on Lake 
Ontario happened near the Ducks, small islands near the 
Canadian shore, about forty miles from Kingston, on the 
morning of April 30, 1853. The upper cabin steamer (3cean 
Wave, built in Montreal, in 1851, and owned by the Northern 
Railroad, being then on her way down from Hamilton to 
Og(lensl)urg]i, took fire between one and two o'clock in the 
morning, and was burned. The fire took near the engine, 
and appeared to have been occasioned by the faulty construc- 
tion of the boat, which had been on fire on one or two previous 
occasions. When the flames were discoved they were making 
such rapid progress, from the boat being newly painted, that 



FOLK-STOR lES. 1 S") 

the small boats could not bo got out, and in Ifss than live 
minutes it was enveloped in flames. Tlio tmilir scene tliat 
ensued defies description, the miserable victims having but a 
moment's time for deciding b}' which mode (if (h'atii they 
should perish. The light attracted the schoont'rs (ieorgiana 
and Emblem, who, with some fishing boats from the shore, 
saved twenty-one persons out of forty-four, the number of the 
crew and passengers. The steamer Scotland came uj) near the 
wreck about sunrise, and passed without rendering assistance. 
According to the affidavit of the captain and crew, there was 
no one floating around the place at this time. 



THE FIRST EXECUTION. 

On the 16th of April, 1828, the public was aroused by the 
report of a murder committed in the Perch River settlement 
by Henry Evans, upon Joshua Rogers and Henry Diamond, 
in an affair growing out of an attempt to forcibly eject Evans 
without legal formality from pi-emises leased by a lirother of 
Rogers. A family quarrel had for some days existeil in the 
Rogers ftimily, in which Evans had taken a part, and at the 
time of the murder thf; parties had been drinking an<l were 
unusually quarrelsome. Evans had shut himself up in the 
house, which was forcibly entered, with threats and abusive 
language, upon which he seized an ax and mortally wounded 
two, and badly wounded a tliird, who i-ecovered. lie was im- 
mediately arrested and at the June term of the court of oyer 
and terminer in 1828, was tried, the court consisting of Nathan 
Williams, circuit judge, Egbei't Ten Kyck, first judge. .Joseph 



186 FOLK-STORIES. 

Hawkins, judge, Robert Lansing, district attorney, H. H. 
Sherwood, clerk, H. H. Coffeen, sheriff. The district attor- 
ney was assisted by Mr. Clarke, and the prisoner was defended 
by Messrs. Sterling, Bronson and Rathbone. The vicious 
temper and abandoned character of the prisoner, who, whether 
drunk or sober, had been the terror of his neighborhood, out- 
weighed the extenuating circumstances of the case, and the 
jury, after half an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict of 
guilty. He was sentenced to be hung August 22d, and he 
was executed in the presence of an immense crowd who had 
assembled to witness the barbarous spectacle from this and 
adjoining counties. The gallows was placed on the north 
bank of the river nearly opposite the court house, and thither 
he was escorted by a fife and drum corps. The body was 
taken by his friends to Brownville and a grave dug in the 
cemetery, when objections were raised and one person swore 
that he should not be buried there. Another place was then 
got, but the rock was reached in two feet. A grave was next 
dug just outside of the corporate limits, when as he was about 
to be lowered, objections were again raised and one or two 
women were seized with hysteric fits because the locality was 
in sight. The corpse w^as finally taken back three or four 
miles from the village and buried by night. The lamentable 
prevalence of superstition thus evinced, has its equal only in 
the popular belief in vampires, which on more than one occa- 
sion, has disgraced the annals of this and neighboring coun- 
ties. 



FRENCH BON VIVANTS. 



Until about 1816, the settlements along the river were 
limited to a few points, but about this time the country around 



FOLK-STORIES. 187 

began to be taken up ; new roads were opened in everv 
•lirection, and for a short time, the country advanced rapidly 
in popuhition and improvements, which continued till the 
completion of the Erie Canal. At Cape Vincent, .'several 
educated and accomplished Freneli families located : among 
whom, in 1818, was Peter Francis Real known in European 
history as Count Real, the chief of police nnder Napo- 
leon. The change of political prospects in France, 
in a few years, recalled many celebrated exiles who 
had adhered to the fortunes of Napoleon, and fled from 
the disasters which overtook that dynasty, among whom were 
Count Real, and others who had made this country their 
home. At about the .same time, Mr. F. R. Hasler, the eminent 
philo.sopher and engineer, having become interested in real 
estate in the place, went there to reside with his family, and 
planned the establishment of a normal school, which he never 
perfected. The village was a favorite resort with Mr. Le Ray, 
and he was often accompanied l)y eminent foreigners, who 
never visited the country without becoming his guests, and 
sharing that refined hospitality which he knew .^o well how to 
bestow. The first visit of Le Ray to this ])lace was in 1803, 
and was attended with the following incident : 

He was accompanied by Gouverneur Morris, and afti-r 
vLsiting Brownville, they took an ojjcn boat to continue their 
journey, as Mr. Morris had a wooden leg, and could not con- 
veniently travel in the woods by the rude means of comnumi- 
cation which the country then afforded, and he was moreover 
very partial to sailing, and claimed to be especially skillful in 
managing water craft. On passing Cherry Island, Mr. Morris 
observed that there must be fine fishing there, and as he had 
with him his French cook, and culinary api)aratus, he 
declared he would serve his friend a better fish dinner than he 



188 FOLK STORIES. 

had ever tasted. Mr. Le Ray objected that it was getting late 
and cloudy, and they liad a great ways to run before reaching 
Putnam's, the first settlement on the shore. Nothing would 
do ; Mr. Morris was as fond of good cheer as of sailing, and 
they stopped. They had good fishing, and a capital dinner ; 
but it was late before they set sail again, and dark before they 
reached the St. Lawrence, and they were obliged to stop at 
Gravelly Point, two miles above Putnam's, where they pitched 
their tent and went to bed, for they had all the necessary 
implements. In the middle of the night, a fire built before 
the tent set it in flames ; Mr. Morris, thus unseasonably dis- 
turbed, felt all around for his wooden leg, but was obliged to 
flee without it. The exposure to wind and rain produced in 
Mr. Le Ray a very violent illness and he with difficulty 
returned to Brownville. Dr. Klrkpatrick was procured from 
Rome, and he was long confined with a dangerous fever. 



BURIED THEIR RATIONS. 

There were not wanting incidents of a ludicrous kind, 
which enlivened the monotony of the camp, and showed the 
lights, as well as the shades of the soldier's life; Abuses will 
sometimes work their own reform, as was illustrated in an 
amusing instance at Sackets Harbor during the war. A mess 
of militia soldiers had received, for tlieir rations, a hog's head, 
an article of diet not altogether available, or susceptible of fair 
and e(|ual division among them. They accordingly, upon 
representation of the facts, procured at other messes in the 
cantonment, a contribution in kind, to supply their wants for 



t'OLK-STORIES. 189 

the comino- week, and after the morning review, having 
l)hiced upon a bier, borne on the shoulders of four men, their 
ration of pork, they marched through the vilhige with mutikMl 
drum, and notes of the death march, to the cemetery, where 
it was solemnly buried with military honors. On the next 
occasion, they received from the commissary store a supply of 
edible meat, and the occasion for a similar parade did not 
afterwards occur. 



SEIZURE OF A CANNON. 

The irritation which the events of the " Patriot War " oc- 
cassioned, did not at once subside, and several of the American 
Steamers, especially the United States, were regarded with 
aversion on the Canada side for some time. As this Steamer 
was leaving Ogdensburg on the evening of April 14, 1839, 
with a large number of passengers on board, from six to ten 
rounds of musket shot were fired from the wharf at Prescott, 
upon which an angry crowd had assembled, and the same 
evening she was fired upon from the wharf at Brockville. A 
subsequent incjuiry failed to fix upon any particular one as 
the culprits. On the 17th of May, 1839, the Schooner G. S. 
Weeks, stop})ed at l^rockville to discharge some merchandise, 
and the usual i)apers were sent to the Custom House. Per- 
mission to unload was granted, wh'ii it was noticed that an 
iron six-pounder was lying upon deck, belonging to the State 
of New York, and consigned to Captain A. B. James, at Og- 
densburg, being sent to re{)lace one that had been seized by the 



190 FOLK-STORIES. 

" Patriots " in the affair at the Windmill in the preceding- 
year. 

An attempt was made to seize this gun, which was resisted 
by the crew, when the Collector came up and took possession 
of the vessel, under the pretext of some irregularity in her 
papers. The gun was taken out, paraded through the streets, 
and fired several times by the mob in triumph. Word was sent 
to Colonel Worth at Sackets Harbor, who at once repaired to 
the scene of disturbance, and a few hours after, a steamer with 
British Regulars arrived from Kingston. By the united' efforts 
of the military officers and of the civil magistrates, the gun 
was finally surrendered by the mob without a collision, which 
for a time seemed imminent and inevitable, and some of the 
ring-leaders were arrested and lodged in the guard-house. 
These disturbances brought Governor Arthur to Brockville, 
and an effort was made to justify these proceedings, by those 
who had participated in them. It is due to the Canadian Press 
and to the more considerate portion of the inhabitants to 
notice, that they very generally denounced this seizure as un- 
justified. The Collector was removed from office, and the 
irritation gradually wore away. 



CHILD LOST IN THE WOODS. 

The following sketch was written by Mr. David Merritt, 
one of the Knglish families, who located at Sackets Harbor in 
Febi'uai'v, 1^05; the occasion was the loss of a child in the 
woods. 

'I'hc [>ar('nts of the child had recently settled in the woods, 



FOLK-STORIES. 191 

half a mile from any other dwelling. It was of a Lord's dav 
evening, about sunset ; the father set out to visit his nearest 
neighbor, and, unobserved by him, his son, a child of four 
years, followed him. 

The father tarried an hour or two, and returned, not hav- 
ing seen the little wanderer. The mother anxiously enquired 
for her child, sup})osing her husband had taken him with 
him ; their anxiety was great, and immediate though fruitless 
search was made for the fugitive. Several of the nearest 
neighbors were alarmed, and the night was spent to no pur- 
pose in searching for the child. On Monday a more extensive 
search was made by increased immbers, but in vain ; and the 
distressed parents were almost frantic with grief and fearful 
apprehensions for the child's safety. 

Another afflictive and sleepless night i)assed away, and 
the second morning beamed upon the disconsolate family, the 
child not found, and by this time (Tuesday,) reports were in 
circulation of a panther's having been seen recently in the 
woods by some one. This circumstance gave a pungency to 
the grief and feelings of every sympathetic heart unknt)wn 
before ; and the timid and credulous were ready to abandon 
any further efforts to recover the child, and give the distressed 
parents up to dispair. 

It was however concluded to alarm a still more exten.sive 
circle, and engage fresh volunteers in a work that must inter- 
est and arouse even the unfeeling on common occasions. A 
messenger was dis])atched to Sackets Harbor, a distane(> (jf six 
iriiles ; it was in itself an irresistible ai)pi'al to t'very fueling 
heart. To feel, was to act. 

Messrs. Luff, Ashby, Merritt, and others immediately 
mounted their horses, and repaired to the scene of painful 
anxietv : this was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon of 



192 FOLK-STORIES. 

Tuesday. When they arrived at the spot, the number present, 
that had coHected from all quarters, was about five hundred 
men. A small number was immediately chosen as a commit- 
tee to direct tlie best method of search, and they were formed 
in a line, extending to the right and left of the house, a mile 
e ich way. They were placed so far a part as to bring every foot 
of ground they passed in their search under their ob- 
servation ; and when ihey had marched such a given distance 
from the house, the left or right wing were to wheel in such a 
way, as would, by pursuing the same plan, have effefctually 
searched every spot within several miles of the house before 
evening. The order of the day was that no person should 
fire a gun, .sound a horn, halloo, or make any needless noise, 
whatever ; but with vigilance, and a sense of duty to the dis- 
tressed parents, use every effort to recover the child. If the 
child was found alive, every person, that had a gun, was to 
lire, and every one that had a horn to sound it ; on the con- 
trary, if the child was found dead, one gun only should be 
tired, as a signal to the remote line to cease searching. 

In this way, in silence, they had marched about two 
miles, when a distant gun sounded ; it was an anxious 
moment. "Is the child alive?" was a thought that ran 
thi'ough every niind ; a moment more and the hope was con- 
firmed, for the air and forests rang with guns and horns of 
every description. 

The lines were immediately broken up, and each ran, 
anxious to see the little lost sheep. The dear little fellow was 
presented to his now overjoyed parents ; a scene that overcame 
all present. 

When the little boy was found, he was sitting on a small 
mossy hillock, in the middle of a swamp, suri-ounded by 
shallow water. When the man, who first approached him, 



FOLK-STORIES. 19o 

extended his arms and stopped to take hini u|., lie shrank 
from him, appeared frightened, and showed a disposition lo 
get from him. But he was much exhausted, and seized eagerly 
an apple that was held to him. Had he not been rescued 
from his situation, he probably would have died at that spot. 



FIRST LIFE SAVINCi STATION. 

The lake shore in Ellisburgh has been the scene of many 
wrecks since the country was settled, the first within the mem- 
ory of those living forty years ago having occurred in the fall 
of 1(800, w^hen a small schooner from Mexico to Gananoque, 
Captain Gammon, master, was lost off Little Stony Creek, and 
all on board perished. A boat of eight men sent in search of 
the vessel was also sw^amped and all hands were drowiVMl. 

About 1807 a family was located by Mr. Benjamin 
Wright at the mouth of Sandy Creek to afford aid to the ship- 
wrecked, and for nearly fifty years this lonely dwelling had 
sheltered many a suffering sailor who might othcrwist- have 
perished. 



A RARE BOUNTY. 



The anecdote is related that a magistrate in Chami)ion, 
having had an altercation with a leading citizen in Lowville, 
heard that his opponent had offered a l)ounty of ^^^ for his 



194 FOLK-STORIES. 

head. Feeling somewhat uneasy under this, he resolved to 
ascertain its truth, and made the journey on foot on purpose 
to demand satisfaction or a withdrawal of the offensive reward. 
Upon reaching the place he found the person of whom he was 
in search in company with several others, and not wishing to 
make their quarrels a subject of publicity, he requested a pri- 
vate interview. This was promptly refused, on the ground 
that there was nothing between them that required secresy, 
and he was told that if he had anything to say he might say 
it where he was. He then commenced by repeating the story 
he had heard and demanded whether it was true. His enemy 
denied at once the charge, calling his neighbors to witness 
whether they had ever known him guilty of the folly as the 
offering of such a sum, but admitted that he might have bid 
twenty shillings and was very sure he had never gone higher. 
Finding that it was impossible to get this bounty taken off he 
returned home. We are not informed of the result or whether 
the reward was sufficient to tempt the cupidity of his neigh- 
bors. 



MILITARY EXECUTIONS. 

At Sackets Harbor about a dozen militar}^ executions 
were performed during the war, for repeated desertion, with 
the view of striking terror into the minds of the disaffected, 
but with the effect of increasing the evil. These cases were 
many of them young men from New England, of resj)ectable 
families, who in the heat of political excitement had enlisted 
in the army, and who found themselves the victims of the 



FOI,K-ST()KIES. 19') 

wanton barbary of officcM's, exposed to the severest hanlshijjs 
of the camp, and often illy clad, and worse fed, sometimes 
withont shelter, and always without sym[)at]iy. Was it un- 
natural that under these circumstances the memories of home, 
with all its comforts, and the thoughts of mothers, sisters, 
wives, and children, and the thousand associations that 
cluster around tlie domestie fireside, should come freshly to 
mind with a force that was irresistible? Several of these cases 
excited much sympathy, among which was that of a l)oy ot 
sixteen years of age, wlio had been bribed with a gold watch, 
to open a prison door at Greenbush, and who was here arrested 
and convicted. Many officers and citizens made strenuous 
efforts to obtain reprieve, which were enforced by the a])peals 
of a mother, but without effect; the agonized parent f)llo\ved 
her child to the gallows, and the sympathizing tears of the 
spectators bespoke the feeling which this rigid exereise of the 
iron rule of war had occasioned. 

To the condemned opportunity was always given to 
make remarks, in which some admitted the justice of their 
fate, others plead the entreaties of their comi'ades, or the urgent 
necessities of home; and others, while tliey acknowledged 
their crime, supplicated mercy with all the ehxpuMice which 
the occasion could command. Others treated their fate with 
indifference, or openly preferred it to a life undt'r the eireum- 
stances. On one occasion, the convict on ai)proaching the 
scaffold, scrutinized its construction with the eye of a carpen- 
ter, leaped upon the ])latform, pushed olf the hangman, and 
jumped off him.self; but a rei)rieve arrived the instant after, 
and he was restored. The place ol" execution was generally in 
tlie rear of the village, where the graves were dug, and the 
convicts were marched to the spot, surrounded by a guard, ami 
after kneeling bv their coflins, were dispatched by the shots of 



196 FOLK-STORIES. 

of several muskets, a part of which only were loaded with ball. 
There were commonly eight men detailed for this purpose. 
The brutality of officers was in some instances excessive ; the 
most extreme corporal punishment being inflicted from the 
slightest causes, or from mere caprice ; and such was some- 
times the bitterness of men towards officers, that in one case it 
is said a captain durst not lead his company in an action, for 
fear of being shot by his own men. 



THEY CELEBRATED. 



The first celebration of our national independence, in all 
this region of country, was held at Chaumont in 1802. The 
number in attendance was certainly more than a hundred 
persons. From Champion and Hounsfield, Watertown and 
Brownville, Sackets Harbor and Cape Vincent, and other 
points of settlement, the forefathers and foremothers came to 
do homage to the old flag and the land of the brave. Several 
were Revolutionary soldiers. Food and drink were plenty. 
Indians and squaws must also have joined the festivities. 
Rum and maple sugar, shooting at a mark and wrestling, 
stories and songs, and fife and drum, could hardly have been 
wanting on this occasion, although there is no published re- 
port of the proceedings to guide in making out the history of 
that Fourth of July. 



BLOCKHOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE. 



^Considerable alarm was felt at Chaumont in 1812 lest the 
British should come, pillage their homes and burn them ; 



For.K-sTOKiKs. r.)7 

nor did they know bnt hostile Indians niitilit take advaiitaiie 
of the war to pounce upon them ami carry oft' their scalps. 
General Brown therefore advised the huilding of a l)lock- 
house for defense, and this was erected the same year, on the 
north shore of the bay. Not long after, a squad of English 
soldiers visited the place, and promised not to destroy any 
property if the inhabitants would take down the blockhouse. 
This was done, and the material afterwards rafted to Point 
Salubrious and used in the erection of a building for school 
and religious purposes, but long since demolished. The 
artillery of this " fort " consisted of an iron gun which 
Jonas Smith had purchased some time before for two 
gallons of rum. It was found on the isthmus of Point Pen- 
insula. Afterwards this gun was taken to Sackets Harbor 
and form thence to Ogdensburg, where it was captured by the 
enemy. 



W 



A Past Industry. 

Tlic fisheries of Chauiiiont Bay afforded from an early 
period a leading pursuit for many persons living in the vicin- 
ity and have been productive of much benefit to the locality 
and tlie public generally. The earliest enactment relating to 
this branch of industry commences with the century. It having 
been represented that people from Canada and other places 
were doing injustice to the fisheries at the east end of Lake 
Ontario by obstructing the rivers and streams by seines, a law 
was passed March 28th, 1800, prohibiting the placing of ob- 
structions to the passage of fish under a penalty of $25. This 
was probably from representations of citizens in Ellisburgh as 
Lyme was then without inhabitants. 

In 1808 fishing with scoop nets, called here scaff' nets be- 
gun, wrote Dr. Hough in 1853, and has been more or less 
constantly practiced since. This net is about 12 feet square, 
sti-etched by two long bows crossing each other and let down 
horizontally into the water, being balanced on a long pole 
poised on a post on the banks. When fish pass over it the 
net is suddenly raised and swung round on the bank. Some- 
times 300 fish or more are thus caught in a night. ' [White- 



A PAST INDUSTRY. l'.)!) 

fish and salmon tront were taken in great (juantitics by this 
crude metliod on Point Salubrious.] Seines wovo sodu after 
introduced, the first one beino- brou^lit from the Hudson by 
Daniel Tremper. These seines are from 10 to 100 rods long, 
from 20 to 100 feet broad, wider in the middle and narrower 
at the ends, where they are attached to rods called jack stakes. 
To the cords along one side are attached floats and to the 
other leaden sinkers and to each staff is fixed a long rope. 
When used the seine is taken out in a boat one roj)e being 
left on shore, and when a few rods out it is allowed to run off 
in a wide circuit until it is all off, when the other line is taken 
ashore and both ends are drawn in by windlasses erected for 
the purpose and turned bv hand, or more recently .sometimes 
by horse power. The meshes of the net which are from one 
to one and one-half inches square, allow the smaller fish to 
escape, while the larger ones are scooped out when the seine 
is drawn into shallow water. From one to three hours are oc- 
cupied in drawdng the seine and the product of a haul varies 
from nothing to 75 barrels, the average being six or seven. 

These seine fisheries are mostly around Point Salubrious 
but other places inside of the bay are found eligible to a less 
extent. They are considered the property of those who own 
the adjacent lands and the seines arc owned and labor done 
by the resident farmers assisted by laborers who come in from 
adjacent towns for the purpose. The principal fish caught for 
market are lake herring, locally known as ciscoes, and white- 
fish, and the season for taking them usually begins about the 
first of November and continued three or four weeks. This is 
the spawning season for these fish and the shores are then 
lined with immense quantities of their ova. Seines are drawn 
by preference in the evening or night. 

No positive data can be obtained showing tli« average or 



200 



A PAST INDUSTRY. 



aggregate quantity taken, but the opinion of those most ac- 
quainted with the business is that since 1816 about 10,000 
b-irrels of hernng and white fish have been caught annually 
Seasons vary in the abundance offish ; it is observed that the 
best yields occur in high water. Of late years the yield is 
less than formerly, which is attributed to the use of gill nets 
and the mixture of saw dust and other matters in the water. 
Gill nets have been introduced since 1845, are from five 
to eight feet, (about fifty meshes) wide, from ten to fifteen rods 
long, uniform in width and furnished with staves at the ends. 
These are provided with sinkers on the lower and floats on the 
upper side and connected together form lines several hundred 
rods long. When in use they lay near the bottom and their 
places are indicated by buoys. (Jnce daily they are drawn up 
and the fish removed, which sometimes amount to a barrel in 
ten rods. As the fish become entangled by their gills, respi- 
ration ceases, and they are almost invariably found drowned, 
for which reason they are justly considered inferior for food 
and more liable to spoil when put up for sale. These nets are 
generally set in November. 

A small business was done early in spring, in fishing for 
pike in seines, gill nets and by spearing, and the shores and 
coves of Chaumont Bay have long been the favorite resort for 
the disciples of Izaak Walton, who at most seasons find an 
ample and inviting field for the use of the trolling line and 
spear ; or a romantic cruise by torchlight and inducements to 
lounge away the lazy hours of daylight with reasonable hopes 
(.f a nibble. Pike, pickerel, muscallonge, perch, bass and sun- 
lish, are caught readily by the hook and the former in all sea- 
sons. The seines used here are generally made on the spot of 
linen or cotton twine and cost from |100 to |300. 

In 1817, April i5, a law was passed requiring all fish bar- 



A PAST INDUSTRY. 201 

reled for sale in tlie county to bo inspected and })randed and 
the size of barrels and qui ntity of salt to ]»e used were pre- 
scribed. In 1823, April 13, another law relating to this sub- 
ject was passed ; March <S, 1830, an additional inspector was 
appointed, and April 15, 1835, the inspection of fish was dis- 
continued. Calvin Lincoln was appointed inspector .June II. 
1817, M Evan.s, March 11), 1818, and Benjamin T. Bliss on 
Point Salul)rious afterwards. The early laws were disregarded, 
but the latter strictly enforced, yet the restriction was always 
considered odious by the tishermen who sought many ways of 
evasion and finally procured their removal. 

By far the most successful fishing in Chaumont hay li.is 
l)een with the pound-net. This method of fishing was intro- 
duced in the spring of 1859 ]>y Ralph II. Rogers, the sun of a 
Revolutionary soldier who was one of three brothers in the 
P>unker Hill engagement, and himself a veteran of the war of 
1.S12. He set a i)0und-net off the shoiv of Point Peiiinsuhi, 
and about the middle of October another was set by 0. II. 
Kirtland, Lucius P. Inghrara, and D. W. Clark, who came on 
from Saybrook, Connecticut, for the pur|)Ost'. The yields were 
enormous foi" the next two or three years, and it was sometimes 
impossible to care for the fish which were caught. 

The average size of the pound-net is 30 feet square, and it 
is usually set in about 30 feet of water, although nets to fish in 
4t) feet were not unusual. This is securely fastened to four 
stakes driven fii'mly into the bottom, witii the ui)[»er I'uds two 
oi' three feet out of water. From tiiis pound oi- rcc('i\c)-. 
towanls tiio shore, is a large heart-shaped net, witii the ajtcx 
terminating in the i)oun(l. From the base of the heart a 
leader is run back to the shore, and fastened to stakes a liun- 
dred feet apart; the average length of the leaih r is thirteen 
hundred feet, and the stakes, as in the other instant-e, ai'e lirndy 



202 A PAST INDUSTRY. 

driven into the bottom of the bay. The fish meet this long line 
of netting, follow it down into the heart, and work towards the 
apex, because of its peculiar shape. At the apex is a large fun- 
nel, with a large passage out of the heart, and a smaller one at 
the outer end, which terminates in the pound or receiver. After 
the fish have once passed through the funnel into the large 
square pound — reaching from the surface of the water to the 
bottom of the bay, — the chances of escape are very small. 
From a net of this kind a hundred barrels of fish have been 
taken at one time. They are now little used except for taking 
spawn for the state hatcheries. 




Three Links. 

Over the signature of " A Link in the Chain," Mr. Solon 
Massey of Watertown, contributed many entertaining anec- 
dotes of the earlier settlers which were published in the 
Jeffersonian, 1851-52. The three following are selected for 
this volume : 

LOST IN thp: woods. 

To any person who realizes what a dense howling wilder- 
ness this country was at the time of its first occupation by our 
fathers, it will not be surpri?»iing that there were instances 
I'ather frequent, of persons being lost in the woixls. 

The natural divisions of hill and dale, orui)land and low- 
land, in this comparative level country, afforded but few- 
landmarks to the unlucky wight who hapi)ened to get at fault 
in his reckonings, and even those who were best acquainted 
with the natural scenery of the trackless forest, immediately 
surrounding our settlement, were sometimes compelled to ex- 
perience the startling reality of being lost in the woods ; which 
was indicated by finding themselves following a circle — connng 
round and round and round again, to the same starting point, 
in spite of all their etlbrts to follow out a continuous straight 
course. 

This liability to be lost was eu well un*lcrstood, that 



-^^4 THREE LINKS. 



whenever any member of the family was longer away in the 
forest than was expected, the alarm was given, and a rally 
made of all the men and boys in the different settlements in 
the vicinity, and a general and systematic search instituted 
with preconcerted signals. 

And yet even the liability to get lost did not deter or pre- 
vent frequent intercourse with the woods. The forest was the 
" long pasture" where the cows lived in summer, and where 
they had to be hunted over long ranges of upland, or of swale 
and beaver meadow, as their fancy or necessity led them to 
forage for themselves. It was the botanic garden where a long 
list of medicinal plants were found, which were relied upon as 
preventives of the diseases that were incident to our new 
country, or as a sovereign balm for everv wound with which 
we might be afflicted for the time being. It was the place for 
berrying for a great variety of fruits and berries in their season 
the great range from which we hunted out our natural-crook 
scythe snaths, our crotched trees for harrows and cart tongues, 
our ax halves, ox yoke and ox-bow timber, broom sticks^ 
etc.; and finally, it was the great hunting ground for a variety 
of wild game, with which to supply our tables with meat, in 
the absence of domestic animals for food. Woods was the rule, 
clearings the exception. 

One incident among a great many others, connected with 
being lost in the woods, may be transcribed from the earliest 
traditional history of Watertovvn, and which is .somethincr as 
follows : ^ 

(Japt. James Parker owned and occupied a large body of 
land (now a farm) on the Brownville road, at present occupied 
m part by his son James. He had a large family of sturdy 
boys, the oldest of whom, at the time our tradition dates, was 
fourteen to eixteon years of age. The old gentleman, like 



THRKK LINKS. 205 

many others of our enterprising settlers, was clearing up a 
large farm, and. for the purjxjse of making the most out of Ins 
ashes, had a small potash works, where he worked them into 
potash or black salts. 

In the process of manufacture, it seems he wanted some 
hemlock gum, and at the same time wanted some groceries 
from the little place yclepted a store here in the village. So 
handing the hero of our story a silver dollar, he hid him take 
his ax and a bag, and on his way to or from the store to pro- 
cure some gum. With this errand and equipment he started, 
after dinner, on his way to the place ; he proceeded as far as 
the foot of the Folts Hill (H. H. Coffeen's late residence,) 
where, stretching away to the south was an abundance of 
hemlock timber, and intent on performing the hardest and 
most difficult part of his task first, and not wishing to risk 
losing his dollar, he struck his ax into a large tree and loosen- 
ing a chip he carefully deposited tlu' coin in the cavity 
between the loosened chip and the Ixxly of the tree for safe 
keeping, intending to come l)ack to tliat starting point with 
his ax and bag, and leave them there in tlieir turn, while he 
ran u]) to the store and back. 

Well, after a while he found himself sufficiently |)r()vided 
with gum, and started off a kind of Indian lope for tlu' i)lace 
where he had left the dollar, passing in his way a sj.ring of 
water, upon the surface of which was a thick yellow .^cuu), re- 
sembling iron rust. On, on, on he traveled, sweating under 
his load, and with tlic lurking suspicion that something was 
wrong, he didn't know what. After a good while, however, 
and when he knew lie must have traveled more than any 
distance that could possibly have been between the last gum 
tree and the one containing his dollar, he made a full halt for 
the purpose. of a. reckoning. ()ne thing was very certain — that 



206 THREE LINKS. 

he had traveled faster coming back than when going, and had 
been longer about it. That had a bad look ! then he thought 
it curious there should have been three of those iron ore 
springs, looking so nearly alike ! And finally, the more he 
soliloquized the more he satisfied himself that he was lo.st. 

What added not a little to his perplexity was, that twilight 
was already spreading her mantle upon the forest. It would 
therefore be necessary for him to select where he would spend 
the night, so far as there was any choice of a sheltered place in 
the woods. He was not long in finding a large standii\g tree 
that afforded just the nook he wanted, between two roots that 
stood well out on either side, and having ensconced himself in 
a sitting posture, with his back against the tree, and the ax 
between his knees, he prepared to face any danger that might 
offer, and to sleep away the long hours of the night. He 
would have telegraphed the folks at home that he was safe, if 
he could. He hoped they would not be much alarmed. But 
they were though, and after sunset the old gentleman got un- 
easy and started out the way that he should come, just to meet 
him — if he was safe — but with a kind of presentment, to succor 
him if in trouble. He kept on, occasionally stopping to listen, 
and sweating with his apprehension, and imagining a whole 
catalogue of mishaps that might have befallen him — whether 
he had lost his way — or had maimed himself with the ax — 
oi- a tree had fallen upon him — or, what was certainly possible, 
some ravenous wild beast had devoured him — all was a matter 
of painful doubt, fear, an uncertainty. 

Tt was not, however, until after he had reached the vil- 
lage, and found by enquiry that his boy had not been there, 
that his fearful foi-el)odings of some horrible evil were con- 
firmed. 

Giving the alarm here, and begging of the good people to 



tiii;kk links. 207 

rally quickly and meet such j)crsoiis as he slioiiM succeed in 
obtainino- fVom IJrownville, he hastened home in such a state 
of mind as can he hcttei- imagined than dcscrihcd 

Tntil his arrival home, the family had not partaken very 
much of his own alaiMi. hut now. what a sad and sorrowful 
company are they, as hurriedly tiny make the neces.sary 
preparation, with jnne knots and biicli hark for torches, horn.s 
and guns for signals, and refreshments for tiie missing i)ov if 
he should be found, and for the kind neighbors who were in 
all probability to be in the woods all night. 

In due time, a large company of men and boys were as- 
sembled, and having organized into bands, with preconcerted 
signals, they struck oft' into the forest, wdiile the mother and 
sisters of the missing l)oy sat in the open door of their lonely 
tenement to await the slow and tedious result, and so as to be 
in a situation to catch the first sound of any signal guns an- 
nouncing the fate of him they loved. 

Thus passed the first half of the night. The hunt pro- 
ceeded with great fidelity, so that every rod of the ground 
was inspected, the horns sounding at regular intei\als of time, 
so as to })reserve the line of march, or to catch the car of the 
boy if {)readventure he was alive. 

The party had proceeded on carefiiliy. until within a few 
rods of where the hero of the play ke|)l his ni<dit vigil, before 
his dreams were disturbed and he sufficiently awake to know 
that it was for his benefit that the horns were sounded ; but 
wdien faii'ly awake, he was not long in vacating his «|uiet re- 
treat, and arresting the further progress of the search, by 
presenting himself in {)ropria pei'soiKc, with his ax on fiis 
shoakler and gum bag under his arm. before the satisfied 
cavalcade. 

]>ang! bang! bang! rang out in (piick succession upon 



208 THREE LINKS. 

the night air, reverberating to each extremity of the long line 
of weary hunters, the preconcerted signal which notified the 
quick ear of the listening mother and sisters that Ellick was 
safe. There was more joy manifested tliat night over the 
boy that was found than over all tliem that went not astrav. 



A MAN SHOT BY HIS FRIEND. 

In the fall of 1801, there was a man, whose name was 
Dayton, who obtained a contract for a piece of land lying 
south of the road to Brownville, as you climb the Folts Hill. 
He built a small log house in the woods, near the present road, 
and was keeping bachelor's hall, through the months of Sep- 
tember and October of that year, with no other companion 
than a young man who was a brother to his wife. He was 
intending to remove his family here in the spring, but, as it 
turned out, he lacked the fortitude and courage which were 
requisite for pioneer life. 

While thus living, an event occurred, which, for the time 
being, quickened the pulses of the entire community, and 
which seemed more like tragedy than any previous occurrence 
in our brief history. 

There was a project for a squirrel hunt, among the scat- 
tered inhabitants of the several neighborhoods, and Dayton 
and his brother-in-law were expecting to particii)ate in the 
general war against the squirrels and other vermin, who were 
likely to get more than a fair proportion of the first corn crop 
ever cultivated in these wilds — though they themselves had no 
cornfields. And here we remark by the way, how unselfish 



TIIRKK LlxNKS. 209 

men become, as soon as they get beyond the old settlements. 
Mutual dependence soon exerts a softening influence upon the 
human heart, and tlie sympathies flow out without stint as 
often as the sulferings present themselves for aid or sympathy. 
This, probably, is the clue to that proverbial hai)piness, which 
in all ages and in all countries, dates back to the pioneer set- 
tlements in a new country. 

With the purpose of having his gun in n>adiness for the 
approaching hunt, Mr. Dayton took it down one evening, from 
its place over-head, and sitting down before the blazing tire, 
laid it across his knees, preparatory to taking off the lock and 
oiling its pillions, so as to insure a smart motion of the hammer 
spring. He was not aware that it contained a full charge of 
powder and shot, or that it was loaded at all ; but carelessly 
held the muzzle towards his friend, who was sitting in the 
other corner of the tire-place, keeping up a cheerful light, by 
timely contributions of light, dry combustibles, to tne open 
fire. It is probable that he pulled the trigger without thought 
or motive ; but what was his horror and amazement when his 
piece discharged with a report that was almost deafening, 
filling the room with smoke, and then lie heard his (•omi)anion 
fall to the floor, exclaiming " I am shot I 1 am shot I "" 

They had no light but the open liiv. ;iiid tlu' smoke was 
so thick and suffocating that no examination could be made. 
It was all uncertain, what the extent of the injury might be : 
Init knowing that Doctor Isaiah Massey had recently arrived 
from Vermont to share our fortunes with ns. niid that he was 
boarding at our village tavern, it was agreed that Dayton 
sliouM fmd his wiv tlirougli the d;ii-k |)ine woods which in- 
tei'veiied, and bring the doctor. 

My fatiier had some coimi collecle(l iVoiii iiis Held, and with 
the male members of his familv— kind men and boarders— 



210 THREE LINKS. 

doctor included, was in the house (log barn,) husking ; and 
my mother was keeping her night vigils alone in the house, 
when her ear detected the quick, hurried step of Mr. Dayton, 
as he rushed into the door, exclaiming, " I have killed my 
brother, and want the doctor ! " As soon as he was sufficiently 
composed to state his case understandingly, he was directed to 
the husking party, for the doctor, while my mother, as if by 
instinct, sot herself about preparing some clean linen rags, 
for bandages and lint, and some tallow candles for lights, with 
which our young Esculapius was soon on his way, on horse- 
back and alone, to answer to the first case of surgery and 
gun shot wounds which had presented itself in his pioneer 
practice. 

He was evidently a good deal flurried, as he struck into 
the woods in advance of his guide, to endeavor to thread his 
dubious way ; and he was frecjuently heard to say, after- 
wards, that it was the greatest trial his nerves had ever 
endured. 

For aught he knew (and in the circumstances of the 
case, as narrated by the affrighted Dayton, a thing quite 
probable), his patient was already dead, and stiffened in 
his gore, an object frightful enough, to be visited alone, by 
broad daylight; how much more, in the dim light of any 
embers which might be left in that lonely house in the woods. 

His near approach to the house, whicli he after awhile 
succeeded in finding, did not alleviate his feelings mucli ; for 
now, the case must be met, whatever may be its develo]>ments. 
The idea of stumbling over a dead man, in his efforts to strike 
a light, or of groping about the room in search of a mutilated 
human being, was all his nerves would bear, and he trembled 
in his stirru])S. 

He however grew ashamed of his fear, and after listening 



TIIKKK [.INKS. "211 

a moment at the door, tai)ped gently for admission; (here \va.>^ 
no answer. He lifted the latch and pressed his weight 
against the door, but it was fastened on the insidi-. He 
knocked again. " Who is there? " said the young man. " Tln' 
doctor." "Wait a minute and I will open the door," said he, 
as he crawled off his coucli and proceeded to take away the 
barricade with which he had fastened the door. He apologized 
for the delay by saying tliat he had heard that wolves were 
attracted by the smell of blood, and that hufling himself 
bleeding pretty profusely, he had thought it prudent to fasten 
himself in. 

It proved to be a case of no imminent danger, after all. 
The charge of shot from the gun had penetrate(l the lleshy 
part of the thigh of the young man, and after a projiei' dicss- 
ing, for which the forethought of my mother had amply 
provided them, the young doctor mounted his horse and re- 
turned to the village, where lie soon succeeded in allaying the 
fears of the community, by his professional opinion lliat he 
would recover, with proper care. 



A WOLF STORY OK K.VIU.Y TIMKS. 

In the brief history that 1 wroti' out for your paper tw. 
or three weeks ago, IV(im the early traditions of our town, 
describing a scene, whieli was almost a tragedy, between Mr. 
Dayton and his brother-in-law, at the foot of the F<.lts Hill, 
on the Hi'owiiville road, I stated, that tlie wounde.l man had 
taken the precaution to fasten his door on the inside, so as to 



212 THREE LINKS. 

prevent the ingress of wolves that might be attracted by the 
smell of blood, while Mr. Dayton was after the doctor. 

I know it is somewhat difhcnlt for the present generation 
to comprehend "the situation of peril in whicli scattering 
families were placed at that early day, or that there was any 
real and positive danger of molestation by the wolves ; and 
therefore, I shall transcribe another incident, in the tra- 
ditions of early man and early times, which will tend to 
correct any doubts upon that subject. 

The late Hon. Jotham Ives was among the early 
emigrants into this town. He arrived here in 1801, and 
located his home, where he lived to amass a large landed 
property, and where he died, recently, near the place called 
Field Settlement. 

In the fall of 1802, he had a number of hogs fattened, 
and at killing time he employed a Mr. Knowlton, an old, 
white-haired man of sixty years or more, who was somewhat 
skilled in butchering, to assist him. Knowlton lived about 
three-fourths of a mile from Mr. Ives, in the near neighbor- 
hood of the present residence of Mr. James Brintnall, where 
he had a little clearing, or what was perhaps more ap- 
propriately called, in backwoods phrase, a chopping, and 
which was surrounded by a temporary brush fence. Between 
himself and Mr. Ives there was no road ; and nothing but a 
line of marked trees to designate the little footpath which 
meandered through the deep, dark, and in many places 
tangled forest, which stretched off almost interminably on 
either hand. 

The butchering over, and supper disposed of. it was 
agreed that tliere was time to cut up the ])ork, and Mr. 
Knowlton consented to stay and assist in doing so. At a late 
liour, the whole work was finally completed, and Mr. 



THREE LINKS. -21:) 

Knowlton was generously compensated for his valued services 
in addition to which he was made welcome to a couple of 
hogs' plucks to carry home to his family. 

But as he was about to leave for home, Mrs. Ives sug- 
gested the hazard of pas.sing through the woods at that late 
hour, with the smell of blood uj)()n his clothes, and invited 
him to stay all night : to which Knowlton answered that he 
could not think of being away from his family all night as 
they would be alarmed for his safety, being unable to account 
for his absence ; that, as for the wolves, though they might 
prowl around his path they would not dare to molest him. 

Now Mr. Ives was a man of great nniscular ]iower and 
would not fear a regiment of wolves himself, ami though he 
assured Mr. Knowlton that he might stay in welcome, yet he 
scouted the idea of danger from the sneaking cowardly wolves, 
and advised him, however, that in case he should be followed 
by them to leave the plucks for them to quarrel over while he 
should hurry on home. 

The colloquy being ended, Knowlton linully took his 
leave with a |)luck in each hand and struck into the woods to 
endeavor to follow out his little foot path, lie had not j»ro- 
ceeded, far, however, before a sharp and stai'tling sound, a lear- 
ful howl, rang out upon the night air evidently betokening the 
near neighborhood of a prowling wolf on his right, which was 
answered from another quarter, and then another in (piick 
succession, until the j)ath, tliat he had traveled but a moment 
before seemed to be alive with hungry seekers after blood. 

lie had yet no fears for his ])ersonal safety and ha<l no 
thouglit of cowardice, but yet he confessed that tlu-re was 
something dismal in the thought of being alone and entirely 
unarmed at such a time in such a place groping and feeling 
his dubious way in such close proximity to a pack of ravenous 



214 thrick links. 

wild beasts, and he soon found himself quickening his pace, 
while ever and anon he instinctively cast a wistful eye over 
his shoulder and into the recesses of the thick woods on either 
hand. 

It was not long, however, that any doubt remained about 
his lieing the object of their pursuit, as his quick ear detected 
the galloping movement of a troop of pattering feet on his 
track, and it was becoming more and more a question of in- 
terest with him how the chase would terminate. 

He hoped wdien he reflected that he was nearing his own 
habitation every moment and his path was becoming plainer, 
and he was able to make better progress. But the odds was 
with them for they were lighter of foot and could see a great 
deal better than he could in the gloom of the forest, but, more 
than all, they were so many and were mad with hunger and 
were becoming more and more desperate every moment. On, 
on, on, the old man strode resolutely and with a strengtli and 
speed which would have surprised him at any other time, 
even by daylight, but which seemed slow enough now in the 
time of his extremity. 

If he could but keep them at bay a little longer and until 
he could clear the dark woods and get the benefit of the com- 
])aratively open light of his chopping, or lay his hand u[)on a 
strong hand spike, sled stake or billet of wood, he miglit still 
liope to defend liimself successfully or escape from their hun- 
gry jaws. Straining every nerve he bounded onward with 
such agility as only desperation and love of life afforded ; but 
the distance between him and his pursuers was not lessened 
l)y all his efforts, and before he reached the brush fence that 
surrounded his })eaceful home he felt that his time had nearly 
come, when he bethought himself of the parting advice of his 
friend Ives. 



TIIKEK IJXKS. '21. ■) 

He acted u})on the suggestion and immediately linrl(Ml one 
of the plucks into their midst ; in tlie next moment he was on 
the home side of his brush fence and they were fighting over 
the paltry price with which he had purchased his own safety. 
It may be safely assumed that he did not wait to witness the 
result of the civil war which he had occasioned, hut that as 
soon as possible he found himself on the inside of liis I'ude 
domicile, with the door fastened on the inside. 

Mr. Knowlton lived many years after the event which I 
hav^e narrated and died a natural death, and the woods which 
were the scene of our story have long since been cleared away 
and the wolves are only known as figuring in the history of 
the olden time. 



A Bit of Topography. 

The foregoing ingenious chart was prepared by Mr. 
Frederick Campbell of Lowville, and was accompanied by the 
following interesting data : 

The topography of the country traversed between Utica 
and the Thousand Islands is to most people entirely unknown. 
The grades are so met that most tourists would be quite un- 
conscious that there were any marked grades at all ; and many 
would exhibit no surprise if they should be told that no higher 
elevations above sea level are met between Utica and the 
Thousand Islands than between New York and Utica. The 
accompanying cut, which I have carefully prepared from 
official reports will reveal the facts. 

In the chart each space represents 100 feet above sea 
level; the irregular line thus makes graphic the elevations of 
the entire route. At the left are given the elevations of a 
number of places in the United States with which the eleva- 
tions of places on the Thousand Island route may be compared. 

It will here be seen that the climb from NevV York to Utica 
is insignificant : there is a rise of only 32 feet in passing from 
New York to xilbany, though the distance is nearly 150 miles. 



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A BIT OF T()P(H;RAPHY. -J 1 , 

And at 238 miles from New York, Utica is found at an clrva- 
tiou of only 410 feet above the sea. I5ut one has proceeded 
only 16 miles on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg rail- 
road (Black River division) when he has doubled his elevation, 
(Trenton,) and with thirteen miles more (Alder Creek) has 
multiplied it by three. While the summit level of the Black 
River canal is at Boonville, at an elevation of 1,119 feet, the 
summit of the Black River route is found a little to the south 
of Alder Creek, the latter place itself being 1,245 feet above 
the sea. From that point it is a steady decline to Martinsburg 
station, the descent being particularly swift between Boonville 
and Port Leyden, the passenger being able to note it by 
watching the locks of the parallel canal. In seven miles there 
is a drop of 235 feet, the first three miles of the distance taking 
145 feet of the drop. From Martinsburg it will be seen that 
there is another climb to Lowville, 845 feet elevation, whence 
there is a practically continuous down grade to Clayton, which, 
at 232 feet elevation is but little more than half that of Ctica. 
Referring to the comparative figures on the left, it will be 
observed that the elevation of Utica is midway between that 
of Harrisburg, Pa., and Rochester, 310 and 510 respectively. 
Holland Patent stands 30 feet higher than Chicago. Trenton 
is much higher than either St. Paul or Kansas City, and but 
little less than Topeka, Kans. Trenton l'';tlls is 45 feet higher 
than Fargo, N. D., Remsen exceeds the celebrated Altoona on 
the Pennsylvania railroad by 24 feet, and Alder Creek is within 
35 feet of Ijeing as high as Chautauqua lake, which boasts the 
highest navigated water east of the Rocky mountains. Boon- 
ville is 100 feet higher than Omaha, J;owville is n^-arly even 
with Topeka, Carthage with Kansas City, and Clayton with 
Schenectady. 



The French Settlers. 

The following paper is from the pen of Mrs. M. L. 
Whitcher of Whitesboro, N. Y.: 

Those who like to wander in the by-paths of our nation's 
history will remember that at a very early period of the revolu- 
tion Dr. Franklin being sent in 1777 as ambassador to the 
French court to gain the assistance of that government in 
carrying on our war with England, was tendered and accepted 
the use of a villa at Passy, rent free, by its owner a wealthy 
banker. Dr. Franklin occupied the villa nine years. 

This act of generous hospitality was done by Monsieur M. 
Le Ray de Chaumont, who was a student of the affairs of 
the struggling colonies and deeply interested in the cause of 
liberty. He gave Dr. Franklin a warm reception and, as the 
American commissioners could not be openly received by the 
French court, he gave up his seat in the ministry that he 
might act asintermediary l)ctwcen the Americans and his own 
government. 

He became the friend and patron of the colonists and sent 
them a whole cargo of powder with instructions that it need 
nut bo paid fur unless their cause was won. We recently 



m 




,^^Ja^^^^^-^^ 



THE frp:nch settlers. 219 

learned from the agent of the Le Ray estate that the powder so 
generously furnished had not been paid for. The cargo con- 
sisted of two thousand barrels. From his own purse M. Le 
Ray also fitted a ship to join the Bon Homme Richard and 
was chosen to superintend the equipment of the entire squad- 
ron which was destined to cast lustre on the name of John 
Paul Jones. 

M. James Donatius Le Ray, the banker's eldest son, was 
at this time completing his education, studying English with 
iiis father's venerable friend, Dr. Franklin. He, too, became 
interested in American affairs and visited this country soon 
after the revolution, bearing letters of introduction from Dr. 
Franklin to Gouverneur Morris, DeWitt Clinton and other 
prominent men. During a second visit he bought large tracts 
of land, one in New Jersey and another in Otsego county, this 
state, for which Judge Cooper, father of the novelist, J. Fenni- 
more Cooper, was his agent. But the largest ot his purchases 
was a tract of two hundred and twenty thousand acres of land 
in Jefferson county, the most of which was bought on Jan. 3, 
1.S08, from William Constable, the grandfather of the late 
Hon. William C. Pierrepont of Pierrepont Manor. It was on 
tliis property that he built his home. A hamlet sprung up 
around his grand mansion, named Le Raysville, as the town- 
sliip was very properly called Le Ray. The homestead site 
and hamlet are near the line of the Ftica and lilack River 
railroad, the nearest station, Felts Mills, being only three 
miles distant. Its sole claim to public notice, aside from the 
air of liistorical romance still elinging to it, is the pietures(iue 
beauty of its scenery. Tlie original dwelling Iniilt in ISIO, 
was burned in l822. This was replaced by a mansion wliicli 
was comj)leted in 1827, and stands on the original site, a pla- 
teau often acres, fn_)ni whieli the ground falls away on fVt-ry 



220 THE FRENCH SETTLERS. 

side. Its walls of massive stone are covered with stucco 
similar to that which adorns the AMiite House at Washington. 
The house is two stories high, with wings at either side and a 
large basement. Four large rooms occupy each floor, the front 
parlors and corresponding rooms above being octagon in form. 
One of the wings was used as a chapel and the other for a 
library. In the basement were the storerooms, pantries, 
kitchen and wine cellar. The floor of the last mentioned is of 
stone, while all around the sides were shelves so arranged with 
holes that the wines, always the choicest variety, were kept 
on their corks. A number of wine casks are still standing in 
the old cellar and the aroma, which is even at this time plainly 
perceptible, is a vivid reminder of the times when the mansion 
was widely famous for its frequent and generous hospitality. 
Among the many distinguished guests entertained at the 
mansion were Gouverneur ]\Iorris, Governor Clinton and 
President INLmroe, who, shortly after his inauguration, made a 
tour of the northern frontier to inspect the military fortifica- 
tions and learn their strength in case of need. The president 
arrived in August, 1817, and remained for several days, the 
guest of M. Le Ray. The president wore the undress uniform 
of an officer of the revolution — a military coat, light colored 
breeches and a cocked hat. 

In the grand octagon i)arlors there are still some of the 
massive elegant pier tables, with their plate glass backs and 
carved lions' feet, while above the marble mantels arc the 
grand old mirrors extending to the ceiling, and at either side 
are elegant bronze cliandeliers, which supported large clu.sters 
of wax candles. The walls of these rooms are still without 
spot or blemish although they were finished in 1827. To one 
visitor, at least, who would tell the story of tlieir hey-dey and 
their desolation there is an indescribable cbarm in these — ^ 



THE FRE^'CH SETTLERS. 221 

" Rooms of luxmy and state, 

That old magnificence so riclily furnished, 
With cabinet of ancient date 

And carvings gilt and burnished." 

The mansion faces the forest. On its left was the deer 
park, where tame fawns might be seen ciuietl}' grazing, while 
to the right were the ample gardens, which were famous for 
rare fruits and choice flowers and vegetables, imported from 
France or furnished from the gardens at the White House in 
Washington, their only superior in this countr3\ 

A neat bridge with white latticed railing still spans the 
stream that runs in front of the mansion and forms an attrac- 
tive feature of the landscape from the piazza, where the massive 
Doric columns extend to the roof " Where once the garden 
smiled " is now a field of wheat. The old garden walks can 
now only be traced by some lilac or sturdy rose. The l)eautiful 
grave beside the garden is still standing and tlirough it the 
old path leads to the waterfall and the ruins of what was once 
a pretty alcove. Of the man}- arbors, rustic bowers and sum- 
mer housts which were arranged so invitingly about the 
grounds, only one remains, the spy-house, an octagon structure, 
neatly plastered and painted. This cozy retreat was furni. shed 
with books, papers and a spy-glass, with which the mcnibei-s 
of the household could amuse themselves with watdiiiig llie 
movements of the villagers. Between the spy-liouse and the 
village was an artificial pond formed by damming the stream 
which niui-iinnv<l through tlu' ground at llic watcrf'ill (.nly to 
ai)poar again near the mansion. Tlic sheet of water is ealleil 
St. James' lake. It was stocked with sj.erkled troul aii-l |.i-o- 
vided with pleasure boats. It still furnishes the young villagers 
a fine boating place. 

The waterfall is a place of wild, romantic beauty. The 



222 THE FRENCH SETTLERS. 

waters of the stream which murmurs through the grove here 
plunge down a deep, rocky chasm and disappear from sight. 
At the foot of the chasm is a small cave where the sunshine 
never enters, but above and around it wild flowers bloom 
profusely. The air seems always filled with the music of song 
birds, odors of wild flowers and the soft splashing of the falling 
water. It seems like enchanted ground. 

In the grove near the fall is the tomb of a little child. It 
is covered by a slab of gray marble and upon an upright 
stone one may read : " Here lies Clotilde de Gouvello, died 
Sept. 20, 1818. She was endeared to her parents and tenderly 
loved by all who watched her thirteen months of patient suf- 
fering life. Strew flowers upon her grave, but weep not, for 
she numbers with angels in Heaven." This little one was 
the grandchild of M. LeRay and was the only one of the 
family who was buried in America. She was baptized in the 
grove not far from her last quiet resting place. A huge 
boulder, which presented a large flat surface about four feet 
from the ground, was, with candles, crucifix and fair linen, 
transformed into an altar. A large brancli of a tall oak spread 
out protectingly as a canopy over it, and near the end of the 
limb two of its smaller branches suggested the antlers of a 
deer. Artistic carving of the end of the limb completed a 
close resemblance to a deer's head. At its neck was hung a 
l)ell which could be rung from the ground by means of a 
nicely adjusted rope and pulley. On a i)leasant afternoon in 
August, IS 17, at a given hour, the bell was rung, and tlie 
family, accom})anied by servants, sponsors and priest, 
marched in quiet procession to the appointed place. When 
the solemn sacrament of baptism had been administered to 
the child the party returned to the mansion where a baptismal 
feast had l)een jjrepared, and gifts, to coniuuMnorate the event. 



Till:: ii;i:;:vcii yEiiLEi;^. 22:] 

were distributed to all the retainers of tlie household. The 
mother of this eliild was Therese, only danohtor of M. LeRay. 
She had remained in France, where she became engaged in 
marriage to the Marquis De Gouvello. Her father had been 
sent for to assist in drawing up the marriage settlements and 
when tliat important document was read the daughter 
demanded a change, providing that, in case of divorce, her 
I)ortion of her husband's estate should be doubled. Her father 
remonstrated, declaring that God, who ordained marriage, 
designed the union to be perpetual, and would not bless a 
bond accepted by the lips when the heart harbored tlioughts 
of its severance. The marriage was therefore postponed until 
the judgment of the daughter harmonized with that of her 
father. It was in honor of this daughter that the town of 
Theresa was named, as Cape A'incent was named for his son 
Vincent, Alexandria Bay for his son Alexander, Julielville 
( now a part of Watertown ) for his mother-in-law, and Tlessis 
was named for his dog. 

In his religion, M. Le Ray was a devout Catholic, yet 
liberal in his spiritual as he was generous in his material 
things. This was shown in his gifts of land and building 
materials for the building of churches of any denomination. 
He also contributed freely for the establishment of schools. 
In fact in all of his affairs he used very liberal measures. 

He sent agents to France and other countries, circulated 
pamphlets an<l sought to induce iho.'^e who had been neigli- 
l)ors in the old world to unite in settling the new. He 
brought gentlemen of education and alalitv to supi-rintend 
tlie establishing of mills and factories which \iv |)rovidcd as 
the wants of the settlers re( pi i red. These gentlemen brouglit 
with them not only the arts and industries of the higher 
civilization of llieir old home. Imt somewhat nu.re of the idea 



224 THE FREN(^H SETTLERS. 

of social rank and dignity of position that was used in new 
American settlements, in the northern states at least. For, 
although the family and all their household were courteous 
and conciliatory, this did not bridge over the great social gulf 
between them and their neighbors, and when the great family 
carriage bowled through the village the housekeepers left 
their baking and churning to catch a glimpse of the passing 
grandeur. ''There's such divinity doth hedge a king." 
These people furnished a denial to that popular fallacy " that 
all men are created equal." 

Prominent among the distinguished French gentlemen 
who purcliased land of M. Le Ray was Joseph Bonaparte, ex- 
king of Spain. After the defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Joseph, 
realizing that " riches have wings," offered M, Le Ray, who 
was then in France ( where he had been sent to settle some 
accounts between that government and the United States,) 
several wagon loads of silver for an uncertain amount of liis 
American territory. There were no surveys or title deeds 
agreed upon, as the Bonapartes were in great haste to get out 
of France and there was little time for details. Napoleon 
promised to meet his In'other in this country and there is no 
doubt, that had the emperor been allowed to select his own 
line of travel, he would have preferred to live with his 
marshals and generals on our northern frontier to the lonely 
isle of St. Helena. 

Joseph Bonaparte made a purchase of one hundred and 
twenty thousand acres in Jefferson and Lewis counties. A 
beautiful lake on the^ edge of tlie North Woods is still called 
Bonaparte Lake. In extent it is more than a thousand acres ; 
it is dotted with picturesijue islands, and being fed wholly by 
subterranean streams its waters have a wonderful clearness, 



such as has made Loclies Lomond and Katrine famons in 
Scottish history. 

At a place on Indian river about nine miles (rom the 
village of Carthage, the waters tlow undi-r a rock of white 
limestone, and at this point, called Natural Bridge, Joseph 
Bonaparte built a house in 1829, which is still standing. The 
bridge on the upper side is nearly as smooth as masonry, 
while beneath, the waters have worn deep grottoes where one 
may walk upright into the rocky recesses until he finds him- 
self groping into darkness. This locality rewards the seeker 
of specimens of rocks and minerals. The near-by Bonaparte 
house might easily be mistaken for an old-fashioned meeting 
house without belfry or steeple. It is now a tenement, but 
its occupants still take pride in showing its oddities to the 
curious visitors and in furnishing their own admiring com- 
mentary upon the former owner, the count, as they call the 
ex-king of Spain. His green velvet hunting suits, free ex- 
penditure of money, conciliating manner and his bullet-])roof 
sleeping chamber are fruitful topics for conversation. The 
Count de Surveillers spent four summers on his .\meriean 
estate. He was accompanied by a retinue of followers and 
had as his guests many distinguished French generals, exiles 
like himself. Their banquets served on golden dishes, were 
characterized by all the pomp and precision of court eti<juctte. 
Some of these noble guests became colonists for a time. 
Among them were Count Real, who was Napoleon's chief 
prefect of police, the Due de Vincennes, a philoso]>her of 
eminence ; M. Pigeon, an astronomer who brought some of 
the finest instruments known to the age, to Cai)e X'incent ; 
Marshal Grouchy, to whose too implicit obedience of orders 
historians attribute the defeat at Watei-loo, and other Najwle- 
onic adherents who joined in building ;i house for the 



226 THE fr?:n('H settlers. 

emperor's occuj^iition when he should escape from 8t. Helena. 

Another member of the Bonaparte family, Napoleon Louis 
Lucien Murat, likewise became a resident of Jefferson county. 
He was a son of the brilliant General Murat, Napoleon's great- 
est cavalry officer (whom he made king of the two Sicilies) and 
of Caroline, sister of the first consul. The son remained, for a 
while after Waterloo, witli his mother in Spain, until the 
Bourbons made liis residence there too uncomfortable. 
He then joined the contingent of refugees and bought a ti'act 
of land on Indian river near Theresa, where he opened a store, 
built saw mills and grist mills, and fancied he had founded a 
city, which he called Joachim in honor of his ftither. He was 
a gay and volatile young fellow, and though the fortunes of 
his fiimily and of his country were, at that time, grave enough 
to fill a thoughtful mind with apprehensions, beseemed intent 
upon making life a holiday. His store, instead of being 
stocked with corduroy and jeans, which were needed by the 
settlers, was decked out with artificial flowers and French 
millinery, and at his fantastic entertainments metamorphosed 
the farmers' daughters, the only young women in the neigh- 
borhood, into Cinderellas clothed with delicate silks wliicli he 
imported and distributed freely among the maids of tiie Dutch 
settlement. Among the kixuries which the young pi'ince 
brought from France was a grand piano, which was preserved 
only to be burned in the very disastrous fire which visited the 
village of Carthage in 18^1. Its antique pattern showed the legs 
connected at either end by an elaborately carved harp and 
braced by a long bar of solid mahogany, also carved, which 
united the ends as ohl fashioned chairs were strengthened by 
a rung extending across the nnddle. The piano rested upon 
carved lions' feet while at each end were drawers for music. 

Nothing now remains of Joachim, a city *' whose glory 



THE FRENCH SETTLKKS. 227 

passed away while yet it never was." The name, however, 
still clings to a bridge and dam which were huilt when the 
city was planned. 

The prince married an American woman who, wlun 
their last shred of fortune had vanished, opened a boarding- 
school under the untitled name of Madam Murat. Tlie writer 
of a sensational article which appeared in Putnam's Magazine 
in 1853 under the caption " Have We a Bourbon Among us? " 
attempted to foist upon the world a marvelous tale stating 
that the well beloved preacher to the Indians, the Rev. Elea/Au- 
Williams, was, in reality, the young dauphin son of Louis X\" I 
and Marie Antoinette and that M. Le Ray de Chaumont wns 
the agent of his rescue, escape and preservation in the safe 
solitudes of Northern New York. M. Vincent \ v Iwiy indig- 
nantly denied the charge and gave the (h^nial all the imhlirity 
that print and painstaking distribution could provide. 
Lamartine states that the miracle of silence over his esca|)e 
would be greater than his miraculous escape itself. 

It is to be regretted that a name so worthy of remem- 
brance as is that of Le Ray should be omitted from the jciges 
of history. In a life of Dr. Franklin, wliirh has been recently 
published, the story of M. Le Ray's hosi)itality to him is 
pleasantly told ; there also ai>{)i'ai's a i)icture of the senior Le 
Ray and a picture of the house occupieil l)y Dr. Li-anklin 
during his nine years' residence in France. The huilding 
is still pointed out to tourists as the Franklin hou.^e. 

M. Le Ray and his family left America and retui'iud to 
France in June, LS;>(). lie died in December. ISlu. jigcl SO 
years, leaving three children and two sisters. .Mexandt-r. his 
youngest .son, fell in a duel in Texas in ISJl. Theresa, 
Countess de Gouvcllo, died in 185;), leaving one .^on who came 
to this country in 1881, having been invited by this govern- 



228 THE lllENt'H SETTLEliS. 

ment to represent the Le Ray family at the centennial 
celebration of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Before 
returning he visited the old home in Jefferson county. Vin- 
cent Le Ray, who succeeded to his father's estate in 1825, was 
a methodical business man, and though strictly honorable, he 
possessed none of the liberal qualities of his father. He died 
in 188G, leaving one son, Charles, Marques de St. Paul, a 
childless man with whose death the historic name will prob- 
ably cease. 



1k 



Two 01d=Fashioned Boys. 

Ben and Joby Collins were coasting one Saturday half- 
holiday on a sled with bent runners. Ben was the elder and 
the more serious. Joby was more athletic, quickiT of ptTri-j)- 
tion, and slow to believe what he could not see with his own 
eyes and instantly comprehend. What Ben hicked in the 
perceptive organs he fully made up in the reflective. Conse- 
quently he was slow, in fact, clumsy, and Joby was constant- 
ly getting the "start" of him in their boyish divertisements. 
Ben's easy temperament was the means of avoiding friction 
over .Joby's little victories. They usually agrectl cxcfiit upon 
scientific matters in which l)en, having a thirst for knowicdgr. 
was greatly interested. His rehash of natural ]iliiloso|ihy was 
wholly lost upon Joby who was skeptical and at times hori-d 
by his brother's discussion of theoretical and a|»i»li('d si-ienco 
which he found in an old volume borrowed from a n('ighl>or 
who once lived in Boston. 

"Let's take one more slide and then go home, do the 
chores and get ready for the show, " suggested Hen, who, 
though slow, was really the leading spirit in the eiiterpi-ises of 
the fioy's Own Kingdom. 

" What is the show, Ben, " inquired the other. 



230 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

" Why, the tallygraph ! The thing that talks over twen- 
ty iniU's of wire. The showmen come to paw for to get the 
school house to give the show in. " 

"That's nawthin, " answered Joby, its just as easy to 
talk over a coil of wire as over a handsled. Get on — its my 
steer. " 

" But the wire is stretched away miles and miles on poles 
and they t;:lk to another feller at the other " 

Furl! icr explanation was precluded by the speed of the 
sled down the long slope which dropped them gently on the 
ice which covered La Famine and the lake as far as the eye 
could reach. 

" Now, once more and I'll steer, " urged Ben when they 
had shot far out on the ice. 

They returned to the top of the hill and made a fresh 
start, Ben lying down and making a rudder of a new copper- 
toed boot, The course made a sharp turn through an oi^en 
gate flanked by a rail fence. 

Ben steered too much and the sled began to waver in its 
course. 

Look out ! " warned Job, and then flung himself off into 
the snow whither he emerged half suffocated to find the sled 
high and dry in the rail fence and poor Ben screeching with 
pain. It was characteristic of Ben's lack of skill that he 
should slam into the fence. 

" Oh ! my leg, my leg ! It's broke, Joby. Draw me 
home on the sled. I — feel — so — sick. " 

Joby was frightened, but as he did things without ever 
thinking he very quickly mended the wrecked sled with cord 
and then all but finished Ben in rolling him onto it. He drew 
his injured brother to the house and made such a hullabaloo 
for help that his affrighted parents ran to meet him and as- 



TWO OLD-FASH lONKD BOYS. 231 

sist the suffering boy to a trundle bed whicli was liauled fV(jni 
under the bed in the recess. 

A neighbor was sent on horseback for a doctor, sixteen 
miles distant, and grandmother put a buiicli of pennyroyal 
steeping because as she said " if a sweat did liini no good it 
would do no harm, " albeit the victim of the accident was in 
such pain as to cause the perspiration to moisten his whole 
body. 

The doctor arrived the next day and found the limb al- 
ready set and bound in splints of bark, a very creditable job, 
he called it, and left instructions for poor Ben to keep the bed 
for three weeks, when he would return and examine the limb 
to determine the success of the process of healing. 

Now, be it remembered that the Collins-es were a social 
people and their home was the resort of neighbors for miles 
around. Hank Collins' was a popular man, though not 
strong-minded, and while he entertained some political pres- 
tige he was not a leader, but a man whose good graces were 
sought by would-be leaders. Hence his sayings were quoted 
as from an authority, and he was brought into intercourse 
with the scattering neighbors more freciuently than any other 
one of them. Moreover he was a subscriber to a weekly paj»er 
published in Utica. 

Ben always heard what was said by elders in his pivseiie*'. 
and pondered much over their discussions wliieh he insisted 
upon retailing to young Job who did not always cNJiii.it (be 
characteristic of his more patient namesake. 

Job went to the schoolhouse in the evening, and for a 
sixpence saw the new telegraph exliibited. He exi)lained the 
instrument to Ben in the following not very lucid terms: 

"The show didn't mount to nawthink ! The feller set up 
a jigger-jabber on the girls' side and another on our side, and 



232 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

run out some wire along a fence and the trees and brung it 
back into another winder and hitched it to another jigger. 
Then he stuck a wire down a knot-hole in the floor, and some 
more wires into some dishes he called a batter. Then he jig- 
gered one machine and the other jiggered just like it and the 
two just jigger-jabbered and there wan't nobody anigh to it. 
He had a paper ribband wound on a wheel and a clock thing 
run down and made some marks on the ribband just like the 
marks he made on the blackboard. Then he read the pin 
scratches on the ribband out loud and said it said ' In God we 
trust.' I hearn Mr. Marceau say it was all a humbug and we 
was all fooled. Paw, he says there is somethink in it, but 
he don't know what. Some say there is and some say he's a 
vanphilist and made the click-clack on tother jigger with his 
mouth. You ain't mist anythink and I haint seen anythink. 
Wusht Ide a saved my sixpence for a hunk of ginger bread 
next Fourth July." After the recital Job was plied with so 
many questions that the last were vaguely answered in his 
sleep. His ideas of the machine were perhaps as clear as 
those of most of the adults who had been attracted to the ex- 
hibition. 

Poor Ben ! All his life he had wanted to see something 
and now his pain must be borne with additional grief because 
deprived of seeing an exhibition of electric science. His feel- 
ings upon this subject were not relieved on hearing the 
discussions of the exhibit which occurred almost daily among 
the neighl)ors who called to sympathize with Ben and boi-row 
the newsi)aper. 

During his imprisonment he heard much talk of tlic 
election of governor, and Hunkers, Barn Burners, Free IJjilers 
and Mudsills, as well as Anti-Masons. He was well aware 
that his father was not in svnn>athy witli the latter as ho had 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED i;OYS. 2So 

heard a heated debate between him and Hone Marcrau, tlie 
latter alleging that he did not want to belong to a party of 
murderers or have them get into power to secretly kill off their 
enemies at will and leave the world to wonder who did it. 

" But Free Masonry does not encourage that sort of thing 
any more than does the Church of England," protested Mr. 
Collins. 

" You tell me that ! You know as well as 1 they killed 
Morgan, threw him into Niagara river and then one night 
buried him in three graves. You know that hundreds of 
other unaccountable murders have been committed in the 
same mysterious way. Do you want a government of mur- 
derers? " 

"No, I do not. But I do not like to see my — a party 
called murderers without the proof. A man is innoeent until 
he is proven guilty." 

Marceau was a pronounced Anti and no amount ot argu- 
ment would convince him that a Free Mason was not a dis- 
guised murderer. So it was agreed that the matter should 
not be further discussed. 

About ten days after this discussion l)en sat upon his 
trundle-bed, which was far too small, in the house alone. .lob, 
who had become more and moi-e of a coiupanit)n during l>en s 
stay in doors, ran in all out of bn^ath. 

"Say, Ben, its too durn bad ! Can't you walk? Try it. 
I've just found some of the queerest things in the straw .stack. 



Silver 'n gold things ! " 

Ben's curiosity was fully arou.sed, besides he had l-ecii 
shut up ten days and was hke a caged bird once free. 

" I bleeve I can hobble out there and back before any- 
body comes. I just hopped to the door and h.i<k just to sei 
if I could move. " 



234 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

" In course you can, " vouched the excited Job. " Ten 
days is time enough to heal a horse's leg. Here, take gramp's 
cane and the tongs. I'll help. " 

Slowly and in fear Ben started on the short journey and 
with Job's encouragement he reached the stack inuch to his 
surprise without any special suffering. (3nce there Job began 
throwing the straw, which had been thrashed with a flail, 
aside with a fork made of the crotch of a hickory stick. 

"What's this?" holding up a pair of crossed quills. 
" And here is a cooper's compass stuck on a square and look 
at these great keys ! Here's pole hooks and a big letter G, 
and a Bible — would a thief steal a Bible, Ben?" 

"Well how do you know any of it's stole, " inquired Ben. 

"How else could it get into the straw, then," queried Job 
in turn. 

"Well, I don't say as how it was stole, but I just believe 
its a Free Mason's " 

Job dropped the keys with an exclamation of horror. 

"Do you suppose this is what they kill folks with? " 

Ben wasn't sure, but at his suggestion the discovery was 
again secreted in the straw and the boys returned to the house 
in alarm lest they should meet the fate of Morgan before the 
return of their parents. And Ben began to feel that perhaps 
he might sufl^er great injury from deserting his bed before he 
had permission. 

When the parents returned the boys related the news of 
their wonderful find to their mother, and she in turn told 
their fatlier. He seemed surprised and a little frustrated, 
then sternly bade them not to say a word to a soul about the 
matter. 

Next forenoon Job plucked up courage enough to again 
remove the straw so as to uct iiiiolher look at the strange 




IN JUST ONCE MOKE. 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 235 

objects. He threw out a great lot of the straw and declared 
he didn't suppose he had buried it so deep. After an extra 
effort he came down to solid straw wliich had not been dis- 
turbed. Xot until then did it occur to him that the wonder- 
ful things he had seen and handled had gone just as myster- 
iously as they had appeared. When he made report of the 
equally strange disappearance to his father, tliat worthy 
laconicall}^ dismissed the subject with an imperative: 

" Shut up ! " 

It was but a few days after Job's discovery that the doc- 
tor, with mysterious saddle bags, returned to visit his patient, 
only to find him knocking about with his injured limb lashed 
to a barrel stave, the convex surface fitting under the knee 
very comfortably. To the neighbors the boy's leaving his bed 
a week before the date fixed by the doctor was a triumph of 
their inherent opposition to professional science. 

" But what could you expect, " remarked Ben's mother, 
" what could you expect from a doctor who has a mustache?" 

It was agreed that a man so dandified as to grow a mus- 
tache could not be very smart to say nothing of professional 
knowledge. As for Ben, he was too anxious to get away to his 
accustomed outdoor pastimes to debate the question of the 
knitting of the bones between the doctor's skill and the awful 
doses of jalap, boncset tea and calomel administered by his 
anxious grandmother wdio had a Thomsonian specific in every 
weed in the forest. 

" I'm just death on the fever, " she would say, " and gin 
me a plenty of fever-weed and pennyroyal, and keep them 
from a filling themselves with water and I'll warn you they'll 
come out all right unless it happens as it <lid with Huldy 
Dobbins, she that was a Purse. She was outen her head and 
once when she didn't know what she was about and the 



236 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

watchers was asleep she just went to the spring and drank 
and drank. I took care of her myself arter that and she was 
right sick for a fortnight, but she didn't get another drop of 
water you may depend. " 

The old lady drew a clay pipe from the ashes where it 
had been placed to burn it out, and filling it smoked com- 
placently in silence. Ah ! Could a machine for recording 
thought be had what a world of reminiscence could have been 
rescued from oblivion as the dear old lady smoked and 
dreamed of her days of activity " down at old Glosster." 

Some hardships befell the early settlers on this fertile 
point, and among the most annoying little things was losing 
the fire. Mrs. Collins was attending a sick neighbor ; her 
husband had gone to the Harbor with a grist drawn by a yoke 
of oxen and the trip would require two days. The boys and 
their grandmother were left alone and such a bustling prepara- 
tion for dinner had not stirred up the but-and-ben of a house 
since last Thanksgiving, when the occasion was made 
memorable by the rescue of four half-drowned settlers who 
had been cast upon the shore in the night and brought back 
to life in the hospitable cheer of the Collins fireplace. 

The old lady was intent upon getting up a bounteous 
meal of rye-and-Indian bread and corned beef with cabbage. 
When she had broiled some salt pork before the embers, and 
freshened it by dipping the sizzling piece in a gourd of cold 
water often, and then again bringing it to the coals, she set 
about further preparation so interestedly as to forget the low 
fire. When she hung a kettle on the crane she was surprised 
to find the fire out. Not a live ember remained. There was 
no tinder box, and the punk Mr. Collins had taken with him. 

" Joby," she said solemnly, " the fire's lost. You will 
have to go down to Uncle Hiram's and get some fire, and get 



I'WO OLD-FASlriONKb Oovs. '237 

back quick as ever you can. Hero, take the tongs, and 
hurry." 

It was two miles to the neighbor's and a four mile trudge 
in the snow did not promise any unusual amusement. How^ 
ever, he was accustomed to obeying, and that at once. Off 
he trudged with the tongs astride his neck and in due tinre 
made his errand known at the neighl)or's door. He walked 
in without rapping, and was cordially received. A big 
twisted doughnut and a yellow mug of sou[) was brought, and 
the same relished with the truly envia!)le appetite of a lunigry 
boy. 

The end of a burning stick was caught in the tongs and 
Joby started for home, giving the ember an occasional whirl 
over his head to keep it " alive." Weary and wet the plucky 
lad arrived at his father's clearing and climbed the rail and 
brush fence. His foot slipped and he pkmged off into the 
snow whither he emerged half suffocated. The ember had 
fallen to the opposite side of the fence and sizzled and smoked 
and steamed as poor Joby scrambled around in the snow 
vainly searching for the tongs. These were found lodged in 
the fence just as he was ready to give up and cry. J^ut his 
joy was quickly gone. An ominous silence in the neighl tor- 
hood of the erstwhile sputtering ember filled him with disap- 
pointment. The cherished live coal was black and dead. 

Job let out just one wail, and then resolutely turned back 
for another brand, and in so doing exhibited the courage and 
fortitude of the pioneers who subdued the wooded and rocky 
Black River country. Our young hero was successful in the 
second effort, and as he dried himself before the big crackling 
fire he soon recovered his wonted spirits and animation. 

His father returned unexpectedly that night having left 
the grist to bo ground next day, and it was agreed that Mr. 



238 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

Marceau should remain with the grist. What was his surprise 
on going after it to meet Mr. Marceau who had returned five 
or six miles of the distance and brought the two bags of grist 
by carrying one some distance and setting it down, returning 
for the other. He was careful not to get either out of his sight, 
and in the return traversed the distance three times. 

Spring arrived with its attendant floods and a big run of 
suckers, which created no end of amusement for the few boys 
in the neighborhood who had a great joke on Bone Marceau. 
He and another neighbor were catching suckers with a small 
scoopnet, and the better to preserve them they were thrown in 
a rockhole which contained water. They had captured almost 
a hundred of them when they decided that it were needless to 
continue the slaughter. They were not a little surprised to 
find not a fish in the hole and still more surprised to find 
in it a communication with the creek out of which the one poor 
sucker passed and repassed only to be caught up and tossed back 
again until almost exhausted. Joking Marceau was a serious 
thing, however, especially as Tubbs, the cooper, had related 
the incident and the boys knew him for a funny old joker. 

Tubbs was a prime favorite with the boys. He had told 
them that he was in a circus before his arrival in their com- 
munity and the wonderful feats he performed and saw 
performed completely won the boys over to holding a candle 
for him as he worked of an evening, and to go on all manner 
of errands. He told them the most delightful bogie stories 
about banshees and death-ticks. 

A favorite yarn was his experience of driving a corpse at 
a funeral "down east." He had a pair of horses attached to 
a long sled. 

"The ground was bare in spots" said ho, " and rough in 
places. The cofiin was ])laeed in the shnl nn(l all went well 



TWO Ol.D-FASIIIOXKD ISOYS. 230 

until the descent of a big hill was commenced. It was bare 
and rough. The coffin jolted around a good deal and bimby 
the lid rattled off. The corpse was a man who had long 
whiskers under his chin. I glanced backward over my 
shoulder and got a fair look at him. His whiskers were 
l)lo\ving over the edge of the coffin and as I was at the lower 
end of the sled T thought he was getting up to take me. I put 
the birch on the horses and broke away from the perseshun 
and brought up at the graveyard half an hour ahead of the 
others. But it was mighty queer the lid had got back to its 
place and I always bleeved the old feller just reached out for 
it and fastened himself in." 

Just then old Jimmy came back from the woods whither 
he had been sent by the cooper to fetch the horse. Jimmy 
was a wit and he and the cooper were never happier than 
when bandying each other with a half dozen boys to appre- 
ciate their sayings. Jimmy stuttered badly at times and on 
this occasion he returned without the horse. 

" S-s-t-d-d-ggg " stammered poor Jimmy. 

" Sing it," shouted the cooper. 

"The divil a harse cud 1 see-e ! " sang Jimmy, and the 
boys dodged behind the shop to have a laugh at the unex- 
pected response. 

It was April and the Collins boys and .Hmie others had 
an undivided interest in a log canoe, ^\'ith such a frail craft 
they made long excursions up and down shore, and even 
rigged up a s([uare sail out of a woolen blanket. They sailed 
to the islands and paddled back, proud of their skill as 
navigators, and even talked of a voyage to the Harbor to see 
the general training. But it was soon swimming time and 
thnv lived a life worth living. 

The lirst swim of tlie season chilh-d tlK'in blue Init they 



240 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

declared the water warm and on coming out met Valiant 
Smith and he, holding up two fingers and proposed they go in 
again. 

" Go in just once more, " he plead, and although quak- 
ing the boys all plunged back and never a one was the worse 
for the cold dip. 

SCHOOL 

The summer term of the district school was to open with 
a lady teacher. The building was made of squared, logs and 
warmed with a big fireplace opposite the only door. Pine 
seats ran around the walls, and these were confronted by pine 
desks attached to which was a low seat which served the pur- 
pose of recitation seats. 

During the preceding winter term a blackboard had been 
placed on either side of the door. A water pail occupied a 
bench on the right and a high desk filled the portion of the 
opposite side not occupied by the seats. Paper wads crusted 
the ceiling, and the seats showed strange characters deep- 
carved and filled with dried ink. The windows were small 
and filled with " seven-by-nine " panes. The " forest prime- 
val " grew in the yard, and primitive rocks, rearing their ugly 
heads out of the soil, stubbed many a bare toe the while the 
term lasted. 

Ben and Job arose early on the first day of school and 
just at daylight repaired to the schoolhouse, and crawling into 
a window, selected their seats for the term. Others soon ar- 
rived and as they worked their way in Ben and Job set up a 
yell that scared the intruders almost into fits. Their seats se- 
lected and books deposited, an adjournment was taken to the 
yard, some bats and a leather-covered ball were produced and 
a game of four-old-cat was started. Ben was catcher, and he 
got too close to the bat. As the batsman, with a foot on the 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 241 

bye, drew back to sock the ball out into the woods his club 
came in contact with Ben's face. The smile faded and tears 
flowed. 

" I just wanted to see if I could strike the ball hard 
enough to make the fire fly as Tubbs says he usto," said the 
striker, " but I didn't know Ben was so close." 

The repairs took some time and when the boys were 
ready for something else the teacher arrived. She was a little 
woman of uncertain age, but full of determination. The 
boys hung about the door while the big barefooted girls went 
spat, spat into the schoolhouse behind the teacher. Soon 
there was a cloud of dust issuing from the door and windows. 

" Will some of the young gentlemen bring in some cedar 
boughs for the fire-place ? " 

Slowly they started. " Young gentlemen," they re- 
peated, but all the same they brought in more than would fill 
the black cavern of a fireplace. A sharp rapi)ing on the 
window assembled the school in their seats and the reign of 
the new teacher was fairly begun over a colony of homespun 
trowsers and gingham aprons. 

The first class in reading was called out and stood in a 
row in front of the teacher's desk. The book u.sed was the 
English Reader which was filled with horrible narratives of 
Indian massacre, sufferings of wrecked humanity at sea, earth- 
quakes, executions and death in frightful form. On the other 
liand the work contains some of the best selections of iMJglish 
verse as well as prose in existence. To test the new comers in 
ilio class the following selections were read from b(.(.ks with 
wooden covers : 

THE HEARS AND THE BEIiS. 

As two young l)ears, in wanton mood 
Forth issuint;- tVom a noigliboring wood. 



242 TWO OLB-PASHIONED BOYS. 

Come where th' industrious bees had stor'd, 
In artful cells, their luscious hoard ; 
O'erjoy'd they seized, with eager haste. 
Luxurious on the rich repast. 
Alarm'd at this, the little crew 
About their ears vindictive flew. 

The beasts, unable to sustain 
Th' unequal combat, quit the plain ; 
Half-blind with rage, and mad with pain, 
Their native shelter they regain ; 
There sit, and now, discreeter grown, 
Too late their rashness they bemoan ; 
And this by dear experience gain, 
That pleasure's ever bought with pain. 

So when the gilded baits of vice 
Are plac'd before our longing eyes. 
With greedy haste we snatch our fill, 
And swallow down the latent ill ; 
But when experience opens our eyes, 
Away the fancied pleasure flies. 
It flies, but oh ! too late we find. 
It leaves a real sting behind. 

THE YOUTH AND THE PHILOSOPHER, 

A Grecian youth of talents rare. 
Whom Plato's philosophic care 
Had form'd for virtue's nobler view, 
By precept and example too, 
Would often boast his matchless skill. 
To curb the steed and guide the wheel ; 
And as he pass'd the gazing throng. 



TWO OLD-FASHIONKF) P.OYS. 243 

With graceful ease, and sniack'd the thong. 
The idiot wonder they express'd, 
Was praise and transport to his breast. 

At length, quite vain, ho needs would show 
His master what his art could do. 
And bade his slaves the chariot lead 
To Academus' sacred shade. 
The trembling grove confess'd its fright. 
The wood-nymphs started at the .sight ; 
The muses drop the learned lyre. 
And to their inmost shades retire. 

Howe'er, the youth, with forward air, 
Bows to the sage, and mounts the car. 
The lash resounds, the coursers spring. 
The chariot marks the rolling ring. 
And gath'ring crowds, with eager eyes, 
And shouts, pursue him as he flies. 

Triumphant to the goal return 'd. 
With nobler thirst his bosom buni'd ; 
And now along th' idented plain. 
The self-same track he marks again, 
Pursues with oare the nice design, 
Nor ever deviates from the line. 
Amazement seiz'd the circling crowd ; 
The youths with emulation glow'd ; 
Ev n bearded sages hail'd tiic boy ; 
And all but Plato ga/;d with joy. 

For he, deep-judging sage, beheld 
With pain the triumi)hs of the field ; 
And when the charioteer drew nigh. 



24-4 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

And, flush'd with hope, had caught his eye — 

" Alas ! unhappy youth," he cry'd, 

" Expect no praise from me," (and sigh'd.) 

" With indignation I survey 
Such skill and judgment thrown away ; 
The time profusely squander'd there, 
On vulgar arts beneath th}^ care, 
If well employ'd, at less expense, 
Had taught thee honor, virtue, sense ; 
And rais'd thee from a coachman's fate, 
To govern men, and guide the state." 

EARTHQUAKE AT CATANEA. 

One of the earthquakes most particularly described in 
istory is that which happened in the year 1693; the damages 
■ which were chiefly felt in Sicily, but its motion was per- 
dved in Germany, France and England. It extended to a 
rcumference of two thousand six hundred leagues, chiefly 
fecting the sea coasts and great rivers, more perceivable also 
pon the mountains than in the valleys. 

Its motions were so rapid that persons who lay at their 
ngth, were tossed from side to side as upon a rolling billow, 
he walls were dashed from their foundations, and no fewer 
lan fifty cities, with an increditable number of villages, were 
ther destroyed or greatly damaged. The city of Catanea in 
irticular was utterly overthrown. A traveller who was on his 
ay thither perceived at the distance of some miles, a black 
oud like night, hanging over the place. 

The sea all of a sudden began to roar. Mount yEtna to 
nd forth great spires of flames, and soon after a shock en- 
led with a- noise as if all the artillery in the world had been 
, once discharged. Our travtdlci- being obliged to alight in- 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 245 

stantly, felt himself raised a foot from the ground, and turn- 
ing his eyes to the city he with amazement saw nothing l)ut a 
thick cloud of dust in the air. 

The birds flew about astonished, the sun was darkened, 
the beasts ran howling from the hills, and although the shock 
did not continue above three minutes, yet near nineteen thou- 
sand of the inhabitants of Sicily, perished in the ruins. Cat- 
anea, to which city the describer was traveling, seemed the 
principal scene of ruin, its place only was to be found, and 
not a footstep of its former magnificence was to be seen re- 
maining. 

The following lines were read in concert, and thundering 
accent of the boys with changing voices which sometimes rose 
to a strange falsetto, mingled with the piping sopranos was 
indeed a strange exhibition of rhetorical exercises : 

THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE (iLOW-WOKM. 

A nightingale, that all day long 
Had cheer'd the village with his song. 
Nor yet at eve his note suspended. 
Nor yet when eventide was ended, 
Began to feel, as well he might, 
The keen demands of appetite ; 
When, looking eagerly around. 
He spied far off" u])on the ground, 
A something shining in the dark. 
And knew the glow-worm by his spark. 
So, stooping down from hawtlK)rn Inp 
He thought to put him in his cioi.. 
The worm, aware of his intent, 
Harangued him thus, right elo(picnt— 



^^ TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

" Did you admire my lamp, " quoth he, 
" As much as I your minstrelsy, 
You would abhor to do me wrong, 
As much as I to spoil your song ; ' 
For 'twas the self-same pow'r divine. 
Taught you to sing and me to shine'; 
That you with music, I with light, 
Might beautify and cheer the night. " 
The songster heard his short oration, 
And, warbling out his approbation, ' 
Releas'd him, as my story tells, 
And found a supi3er somewhere else. 
Hence, jarring sectaries may learn, 
Their real int'rest to discern ; 
That brother should not war with brother 
And worry and devour each other : 
But sing and shine by sweet consent. 
Till hfe's poor, transient night is spent ; 
Respecting in each other's case 
The gifts of nature and of grace. 
Those Christians best deserve the name, 
Who studiously make peace their aim :' 
Peace, both the duty and the prize 
Of him that creeps, and him that flies. 
The teacher wishing to introduce a new reader placed in 
ands of her pupils a new book called the American Pre- 
y, and to instruct the class they were permitted to read 
r than was the custom. And the following selections 
practiced " upon : 

SINGULAR ADVENTURE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

/Vhen General Putnam first moved to Pomfret, in Con- 



TWO OLD-FASIIIOXKT) BOYS. 247 

necticut, in the year 1730, tho couiitrv was new and inuch 
infested with wolves. Great liavoe was ]na(h' aiiK.n.L^ the 
sheep by a she wolf whieh with her annual whelps, had for 
several years continued in that vieinity. The younjLij ones 
were commonly destro^^ed by tlie vigilanee of the hunters ; 
but the old one was too sagacious to be ensnared by them. 

This w^olf, at length, became such an intolerable 
nuisance, that Mr. Putnam entered into a eondiinalioii with 
five of his neighbors to hunt alternately until they could de.-^- 
troy her. Two by rotation, were to be constantly in pursuit. 
It was known, that, having lost the toes from one foot by a 
steel trap, she made one track shorter than the other. 

By this vestige, the pursuers recognized, in a light snow, 
the route of this pernicious animal. Having followed her to 
the Connecticut river, and found she had turned hark in a 
direct course towards Pomfret, they immediately returneil, 
and by ten o'clock the next morning the bloodhounds had 
driven her into a den, about three miles distant from the 
house of Mr. Putnam. 

The people soon collected with dog.s, guns, straw, fire 
and sulphur, to attack the common enemy, ^y\th this ap- 
paratus, several unsuccessful elforts were made to force her 
from the den. The hounds came back hadly wounded and 
refused to return. The smoke of blazing straw had no elfeet. 
Nor did the fumes of burnt brimstone, with which the eaveni 
was filled, compel her to quit the retirement. 

Wearied with such fruitless attempts ( whieh had broughi 
the time to ten o'clock at night) Mr. Putnam tried once mor. 
to make his dog enter, but in vain : lie proi>o.sed to h\s negro 
man to go down into the cavern and shoot the wolf The 
negro declined the hazardous service. 

Then it was that their master, angry at the disappoint- 



248 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

ment, and declaring that he was ashamed of having a coward 
in liis family, resolved himself to destroy the ferocious beast, 
lest she should escape through some unknown fissure of the 
rock. 

His neighbors strongly remontrated against the perilous 
enterprise ; but he knowing that wild animals were intimid- 
ated by fire, and having provided several strips of birch bark, 
the only conbustible material which he could obtain, which 
would aff'ord light in this deep and darksome cave, prepared 
for his descent. 

Having accordingly, divested himself of his coat and waist- 
coat, and having a long rope fastened round his legs, by 
which he might be pulled back, at a concerted signal, he 
entered, head foremost, with the blazing torch in his hand. 

Having groped his passage till he came to a horizontal 
part of the den, the most terrifying darkness appeared in front 
of the dim circle of light afforded by the torch. It was silent 
as the house of death. None but monsters of the desert had 
ever before explored this solitary mansion of horror. 

He cautiously proceeding onward, came to an ascent, 
which he slowly mounted on his hands and knees until he 
discovered the glaring eyeballs of the wolf, who was sitting at 
the extremity of the cavern. Startled at the sight of fire, she 
gnashed her teeth and gave a sullen growl. 

As soon as he had made the necessary discovery he 
kicked the rope as a signal for pulling him out. The people, 
at the mouth of the den, who had listened with painful anx- 
iety, hearing the growling of the wolf, and supposing their 
friend to be in the most imminent danger, drew him forth 
with such celerity that he was stripped of his clothes, and 
severely bruised. 

After he had adjusted his clothes, and loaded his gun 



TWO OLD-FASIIIONKD ]U)YS. 240 

with nine buck shot, holding a torch in one hand and the 
musket in the other, he descended a second time. When he 
drew nearer than before, the wolf assuming a still more fierce 
and terrible appearance, howling, rolling her eyes, snapping 
her teeth, and dropping her head between her legs was 
evidently in the attitude and on the point of s])ringing on 
him. 

At this critical instant he leveled and fired at her head. 
Stunned with the shock and suffocated with the smoke ho im- 
mediately found himself drawn out of the cave. Ikit having 
refreshed himself and permitted the smoke to dissipate he 
went down a third time. 

Once more he came within sight of the wolf, who appear- 
ing very passive, he applied the torch to her nose, and per- 
ceiving her dead, he took hold of her cars and then kicking 
the rope, still tied round his legs, the i)eo])le al)ove with no 
small exultation, dragged them both out together. 

STORY OF LOGAN, A MIXOO CIIIKF. 

In the spring of the year 1774, a robbery and munler 
were committed on an inhabitant of the frontiers of N'irginia 
by two Indians of the Shawanese tribe. The neighboring 
whites, according to their custom, undertook to punish this 
outrage in a summary way. Colonel Cresaj), a man infamous 
for the many murders he had committed on these imi<li in- 
jured people, collected a party and proceeded down the k'an- 
haway in quest of vengeance. 

Unfortunately, a canoe of women and children, with one 
man only, was seen coming from the oi)posite shore, nnurnu'd. 
and unsuspecting any hostile attack from the whites. CresMp 
and his party concealed themselves on the hank of the river, 



2o0 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

and the moment the canoe reached th shore, singled out their 
objects, and, at one fire, killed every person in it. 

This happened to be the family of Logan, who had long 
been distinguished as the friend of the whites. This unworthy 
return provoked his vengeance. He accordingly signalized 
himself in the war which ensued. 

In the autumn of the same year, a decisive battle was 
fought at the mouth of the Great Kenhaway, between the 
collected forces of the Shawanese, Mingoes and Delawares, and 
a detachment of the Virginia militia. The Indians were 
defeated and sued for peace. 

Logan, however, disdained to be seen among the sup- 
plicants ; but, lest the sincerity of a treaty should be distrust- 
ed, from which so distinguished a chief absented himself, he 
sent bv a messenger, the following speech, to be delivered to 
Lord Dunmore : 

" I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered 
Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him no meat ; il ever he 
came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the 
last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, 
an advocate for peace. 

" Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen 
pointed as they passed by, and said, Logan is the friend of 
white men. I had even thought to have lived with you, had 
it not been for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the 
last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the 
relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. 

*•■ There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any 
living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have 
fought it ; I have killed many ; I have fully glutted my 
vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace ; 
but do not liarl)or a thought that mine is the joy of fear. 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED 150YS. 'I'A 

Logan never felt fear. lie will not turn on his heel to save 
his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one." 

This exercise over, the smaller children were called out 
and read from Webster's spelling book. There was no inter- 
mediary reader between the speller and the English reader. 
Passing upward from" the one to the other was a severe test, 
but one coveted by those who knew by rote the story at the 
Maid and the Milk, the boy in the apple tree who would not 
come down when the farmer threw grass, and the other few 
moral stories "for the instruction of the very young." 

Ben often declared that " 'rithmetic was his best holt," and 
it was therefore with a secret delight that he joined the cla.ss 
when it was called. He felt that here was one subject at least 
in which he would fully acquit himself and make an impres- 
sion of the acquirement upon the new teacher. The text- 
book was "Ruger's New System of Arithmetick." The pub- 
lisher was William Ruger, A. B., author of a gramnuir and at 
least one other school-book, and printed in Watertown, X. V., 
by Knowlton & Rice. 

The inside pages were scrawled over with a (ludl, ami 
quaint were the sentiments recorded on the Hy leaves, ib'rc 
is one : 

If to my friend, 
This book I lend. 
And find it grea.sed or tore. 
ITe may rely 
1 will (h'nv 
To lend it any mure. 
The old •' tinker sum " was set before Ben, and hnblly he 
made the attack. His task may be the ])etter ai.prr<aatrd il 
here reproduced : 

One evening I chanced with a tinker to sit, 



252 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

Whose tongue ran a great deal too fast for his wit. 
He talked of his art and abundance of metal, 
So I asked him to make me a flat-bottom kettle. 
Let the top and the bottom diameters be 
In just such proportion as five is to three ; 
Twelve inches the depth I proposed and no more, 
To hold in ale gallons seven less than a score. 
He promised to do it and straight to work went, 
But when he had done it he found it too scant. 
Thus altering it often too big and too little, 
The tinker at last quite spoiled his kettle. 
He says he will bring his sad promise to pass. 
Or else he will spoil every ounce of his brass. 
Now show your skill, you learned youth, 
And by your work this sum produce. 
Job wrestled like Jacob, but like the tinker his pot was at 
times too large and anon too small. After giving it up he 
left this couplet on the board : 

The tinker man's problem I've failed to settle. 
May Old Nick catch him and his flat-bottom kettle. 
Another problem in rhyme was given the class and a 
merit mark promised the one who should reach the correct 
answer first. It ran in this wise : 

As I was hunting on the forest grounds, 
Up starts a hare before my two grey-hounds ; 
The dogs, being light of foot, did fairly run 
Unto her fifteen rods just twenty-one. 
The distance that she started up before 
Was four score and sixteen rods, just, and no more ; 
Now this I'd have you unto me declare — 
How far they ran before they caught the hare. 
Ben applied the good old Rule of Three and obtained the 



TWO ()M)-FAylII()XKI) I'.OYS. "i.'o 

correct answer long before the others, and havino- awakened 
his Muse he expressed the result in the following rhyme : 
Old Ruger's hare was raced at unseeming odds, 
And lost her life at three hundred thirty-six rods. 
The class was examined in vulgar fractions and divided 
into two classes. The first class was examined in Fellowship 
and closed with some examples in Tare and Tret. A few 
paragraphs from the explanatory notes under tliis liead are 
appended : 

Tare and tret are allowances made to the buyer, on the 
weight of some particuhir commodities. 

Tare is an allowance made for the weight of the l)arrel. 
box, bag, or whatever contains the articles or goods. 

Tret is an allowance of 4ft). on every 104ft). for waste, 
dust, etc. 

Cloff is an allowance, on .''ome commodities, of 2ft). on 
every cwt. to turn the scale, or to make the weight hold out. 
when goods are reweighed, and is claimed chiefly, or only, by 
the merchants of London. 

Scuttle is what remains after a part of the allowance is 
deducted from the gross weight. 

Net weight is what remains after all allowances are made. 
The class in arithmetic was dismissed with another 
poetical problem : 

Friend John, who had in credit liv'd, 
Though now reduc'd, a sum receiv'd — 
This lucky hit 's no sooner found, 
Than clam'rous duns came swarming round ; 
To th' landlord — baker — many more. 
John paid, in all, pounds ninety-four. 
Half what remain'd, a friend he lent. 
On Joan and 'self onc-tiftli 1h' spent : 



254 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

And when of all these sums bereft, 
One-tenth o' th' sum received had left; 
Now show your skill, you learned youths, 
And by your work the sum produce. 

" Recess ! " said the teacher. Pell mell the boys in long- 
tailed coats set off with big brass buttons and the girls in 
pantalettes rushed out and raced themselves red playing hi- 
spy, pom-pom-pullaway and hunt the hare. A smart rap- 
ping on the window recalled them again to study. Joby 
Collins had a scheme which he cherished so closely as to 
almost fear some of the boys would hear him think. They 
were not fairly seated when he broke out : 

" Teacher ! Can Welcome Pettit and me go after a pail 
of water ? " 

Yes, they could go, and so carrying the bucket between 
them they trudged away rejoicing at cutting the hours of 
study just so much short. When they returned the infant 
class was studying the alphabet in the spelling book. Then 
the second class in spelling was called out. The system of 
leaving oflF at the head every night was in vogue, and mighty 
were the strifes for that coveted honor. Job and his compan- 
ion joined the class after passing the water, a priviU\oe that 
was too often made the excuse for a })(»or lesson. Job, as usual, 
drifted slowly but surely to the foot of the class. 

"Drag, " pronounced the teacher. 

One after another missed tlu^ 'vord until it came to Job. 

" Now, Joby, " said the teacher encouragingly, " you spell 
drag and you shall go clear to the head." 

" Yes, mom, " replied Job, and he struck an attitude oi 
deep thought. Suddenly he almost shouted : 

"Drag. S-l-r, drag ! " And he fairly ran to the head of 
the class whence the teacher had not the heart to mar the 



TWO OI.I)-l AyillONKD I50VS. 'J").") 

glory of his victory by correcting his orthogra})liy. aixl dis- 
missed -the class amid a tern ])orary reign of sensational dis- 
order. 

" First class in spelling. " 

Again the big boys and girls lined uj) an<l r.-ad a pagi' 
beginning with these paragraphs : 

Let not reading cause you to neglect spf^lling. Learn to 
spell and pronounce before you read much. 

Good spelling is the sure way to good reading, therefore, 
study spelling with the greatest care, until you can spell all 
the words in this book, a.s soon as you hear them, without see- 
ing them. 

When you can spell well, you will soon become a good 
reader; and as soon as you shall be able to read well, you will 
be permitted to study grammar. 

Grammar will teach you what is meant l)y the ])arts of 
speech, and liow to s})eak and write as you ought : and with- 
out the knowledge of grammar, your language will be incor- 
rect, and you will always be marked by your friends as a poor 
scholar. 

Then the good old poem about the rose was read. Some 
there be who can recite it from memory : 

THK HOSi:. 

How fair is the rose, what a beautiful tlower! 

In summer so fragrant and gay ! 
But the leaves are beginning to fade in an hour. 

And they wither and die in a day. 

Yet the rose has one powerful virtue to boast 

Above all the flowers of the field ; 
When its leaves are all dead, and its tine coh»rs lost. 

Still how sweet a perfume it will yield. 



256 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

So frail are the youth and the beauty of men, 
Though they look gay and bloom like the rose ; 

Yet all our fond care to preserve them is vain, 
Time kills them as fast as he goes. 

Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty, 
Since both will soon wither and fade ; 

But gain a good name by performing my duty ; 
This will scent, like the rose, when I'm dead. 

Following the reading the words in the lesson were-" put 
out," words that Ben declared Noah Webster himself could not 
spell and in fact did not, in some instances, correctly : 
Electioneer, Circumlution, 

Proportionable, Circumvallation, 

Confectionary, Prognostication, 

Agglutination, Transfiguration, 

Amalgamation, Constitutionalist, 

Approximation, Plenipotentiary, 

Calumniation, Excommunication. 

Then the class was lead over a rocky territory of words of 
the same pronunciation, but of different spelling and defini- 
tion : 

Ail, to pain or tr()ul)lo. 

Ale, a kind of beer. 
Air, one of the elements. 

Ere, before, sooner than. 

Heir, an inheritor. 
Aisle, the walk in a churcli. 

I'll, contraction for I will. 
Ait, a small island in a river. 

Ate, the preterit of eat. 

Eight, twice four. 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 257 

Cere, to cover with wax. 

Sear, dry ; to burn. 

Seer, a prophet. 

Sere, withered. 
Slaie, a weaver's reed. 

Sleigh, a kind of carriage. 

Slay, to kill. 

Sle}^, to part into threads. 
Permiscible, that which may be mingled. 

Permissible, that which may be permitted. 

Aother piece of poetry was read with strong accents by 
the teacher and deserves a place in the storehouse of memory: 

WHAT IS CHARITY? 

'Tis not to pause when at my door 

A shivering brother stands ; 
To ask the cause that made him i)Oor, 

Or why he help demands. 
'Tis not to spurn that brother's prayer 

For faults he once has known ; 
'Tis not to leave him in despair. 

And say that I have none. 

The voice of charity is kind — 

She thinketh nothing wrong ; 
To every fault she seemeth blind. 

Nor vauntoth witli hov toiigur. 

In penitence she j)hiceth Ihilb — 

Hope smileth at her door : 
Relieveth firsl^-Then softly saith, 

" Go, brother, sin no more. " 
The class numbered and retired to tbeir seats whcnco 



^58 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

they were soon hurrying out for noon. The afternoon pro- 
gram was varied with the substitution of geography for the 
arithmetic. It contained no illustrations, no maps and was a 
dull, tedious study. The work was accompanied by an atlas to 
which reference was seldom had. It was the work of Daniel 
Adams, A. M., author of the arithmetic. The lessons begin 
with 

THE WORLD. 

The world or earth is a large globe, the diameter of 
which is nearly eight thousand miles, and its surface contains 
nearly 200 millions of square miles. 

It is 96 millions of miles from the sun, about which it 
revolves once a year ; and turns round on its own axis every 
day. 

The earth is generally divided into four unequal parts, 
called quarters ; Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. 

Eorope is the smallest division, but is distinguished for 
its learning, politeness, government, and laws ; for the indus- 
try of its inhabitants, and the temperature of its climate. It is 
the only quarter of the globe which has yet been fully ex- 
plored and known. 

In Asia, the human race was first planted, and there the 
most remarkable transactions occurred, which are recorded in 
the scripture history. 

Africa has been always in a state of barbarism, if we ex- 
cept the Egyptians, those ancient fathers of learning, and 
Carthage, once the rival of tlie Roman Empire. 

America was unknown to the inhabitants of the other 
continent, till a little more than three hundred years ago, 
when it was discovered by Christopher Columbus ; and hence 
it is frequently called the New World, in contradiction to the 



TWO OLD-PASIIIOXED TJOYS. 'i.')!) 

Eastern continent, first known, and lience called tji,. ( )M 
World. 

The descriptive geograj)hy was unique. In a chai.tcr (.11 
the lakes it says : 

Lake Erie is noted for having its islands and l)aiiks, at 
the west end, so infested with rattle-snakes as to render it 
dangerous to land on them. Near the hanks of the islands it 
is covered with the large pond lily, the leaves of which lie on 
the surface of the water so thick as to cover it entirely for 
many acres together ; on these in the summer sea.sons lie 
myraids of water-snakes, hasking in the sun. On this lake, 
the American fleet, under Com. Perry, Sept. 10, lsl:>, gaiiitd 
over the British fleet of larger force, a si»lendid and ini|i(.rtant 
victory. 

EARTHQUAKES. 

There are numerous proofs that earthquakes have hcen 
violent in various parts of America. Nearly tifty have heeii 
noticed in the New England States, since the settleiiieiil of the 
first English colony at Plymoudi. in 1020 Of these, live have 
been particularly memorable, viz. KloS, Kl.ls. l(;(i:>. I7_'7, 
1755, as being much heavier than the rest. They have all 
commenced with an undulatory motion, in a direction from 
north-west to south-east, the central course of which, or j)laee 
of greatest violence, has been in a line coinciding nearly with 
lake Ontario and the mouth of Merrimack river, extending 
southward to the Potomac, and northward lotheSt. Lawrence. 
The whole countiy within these limits has heeii I'lpeatedly 
shaken, most violently about the middle, and least towards 
the south-west and north-east boundaries. In those live, be- 
fore mentioned as being particularly memorah!*', the violence 
of the shocks was such as to cause the bells in churches t(. 
ring; many chinuiies were thrown down, and in some install- 



260 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

ces houses ; furniture dropped from the shelves on which it 
stood ; the earth in many places was rent, and quantities of 
sand thrown out, of a highly sulphurous smell. Some remark- 
able alterations were observed in wells and springs of water 
about the time of these earthquakes. In some, the quality of 
the water was altered ; in others, the quantity. New springs 
were opened, and old ones dried up. 

FISHERIES. 

The greatest part of the fisheries of the United States is 
carried on by the citizens of Massachusetts. The people of 
Nantucket, New Bedford and Cape Cod, carry on the whale 
fishery. These fish, however, at present, are rare about the 
Cape, although formerly caught there in great numbers. A 
species of the whale kind, called black fish, weighing about 5 
tons, and affording oil, is very abundant. The manner of 
catching them is very singular. They swim in shoals of sev- 
eral hundreds, and the inhabitants put off in their boats and 
drive them ashore, like so many cattle, on the flats, where 
they are left by the tide, and fall an easy prey. 

WASHINGTON. 

The city of Washington, situated on the Maryland side of 
the Potowmack, is the seat of government of the United 
States. It is laid out on a plan, which, if completed, will 
render it one of the handsomest and most commodious cities 
in the woi'ld. The streets north and south are crossed by 
otiiers at riglit angles ; these are transversely crossed by 15 
other streets named after the different states. Tlie houses are 
mostly of brick. The capitol, when completed, will present a 
front of 362 feet. It is pleasantly situated on an eminence, 
commanding a view of every part of the city, and of a con- 
siderable portion of th(! country around. The president's 



TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 'HW 

house is 170 by 85 feet, two stories high, of free, white stone. 
It stands on a rising ground, possessing a water prosjteet, 
together with a view of the capitol, and of the most material 
parts of the city. Tlie pojmhition in ISIO was 8,208. 

MICHIGAN TERR1T( )K Y. 

Detroit is the capitah The old town was wholly (k- 
stroyed by fire in 1805. The new town is well laid out ; the 
streets cross each other at right angles. It is a place of con- 
siderable trade, which consists chiefly in a barter of coarse 
European goods with the natives for furs. The town is sur- 
rounded by a strong blockade, through which there are four 
gates. On the west side there is a small fort. The streets are 
generally crowded with Indians in the day time ; but at 
night they are all shut out of the town, except such as get 
admittance into private houses, and the gates are closed. 



The school was closed with writing, spelling and the an- 
nouncement that some of scholars were far enough advanced 
to begin the study of grammar as soon as books could be 
procured, and thus on the first day did the little teacher arouse 
an unusual interest in the little kingdom ovei- which she w:is 
to reign supreme for four months at $2.0(» per week ;in<l 
"board around." 

When the Collins boys returned home from school they 
found some neighbors present and considerable exeilenieiil w;is 
manifested. There were two events, one (h)iiiestie mikI the 
public, either sufficient to throw a family or a nation iiiln ex- 
citement. To the boys the advent of a stove was a lUMivel. 
Considering his wife's exposure to the heat of a fire-place <lur- 
ing the summer, Mr. (bllins had inii-chased the tirst stove 
ever seen in the community and a luipincr womnn thnn their 



262 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

mother did not live, notwithstanding she had some misgivings 
over becoming familiar with its mechanism. 

" I will try it first on some wheat flour biscuits, and if it 
bakes we will have some for the preacher when he comes the 
Sunday after next," said the good woman with a merited touch 
of pride. 

Jol) and Ben agreed it would be fun to work up wood for 
the little thing, and then gave their attention to their father 
who was i-eading from the Bedford Intelligencer the news of 
an outbreak at Niagara. The account is here given verbatim : 

We hasten to lay before our readers, in an extra, the 
latest intelligence, from the contending armies on the Niagara 
frontier, received here last evening in the Cleveland daily 
Herald and Gazette of January 2d. The accounts are from 
the Buffalo papers, and will be read with much interest. 

The patriots were still, at our last accounts, December 
3()th, strongly intrenched on Navy island, which is a small 
British island, two miles above the Niagara falls, and is partly 
covered from view from the American shore by the lower end 
of (Irand Island, which belongs to the United States. 

The British royalists had made several attempts on the 
island, but were as often repulsed by the patriots. And re- 
ports at Buffalo were that the royal forces and Indians had 
landed and taken possession of Grand island, which news 
created a great ferment at Buffalo. The excitement there 
was great on the 29th, but on the 30th, the news of the 
capture and burning, and sending over the great cataract of 
the American steamboat Caroline, found lying at the American 
village of Slosser, opposite Chippewa, with all on board but 
twelve, may be expected to have heightened the excitement 
to its highest pitch. 



TWO OLD-FASHIOXKI) BOYS. 288 

This is our latest news, and its effect at lUill'alo when 
communicated there, we can well imagine. 

Indeed the Herald informs us that the excitement was in- 
tense in Buffalo on Saturda}^ and a brigade of militia was cti-- 
dered out to rendezvous in that city and part of the 20Sth reg- 
iment was ordered on duty on Saturday evening. 

A meeting was held in Cleveland, Jan. 1st, at which reso- 
lutions were passed expressing their sympathy with the Cana- 
dian patriots and with our own citizens who are exposed to 
tory outrage and violence. J. R. St. John and Samuel C'ook 
presided at the meeting, and a committee of 21 gentlemen was 
appointed to receive donations for the benefit of the patriots. 

General Southerland, from the patriot camp at Navy 
Island, was present and addressed tlie meeting and was loudly 
cheered. 

Report says that a company of sixty volunteers left 
Cleveland yesterday in a steamboat for Navy Island. 

The sheriff immediately dispatched an express, who was 
accompanied by two of the United States marshals recently 
appointed, to ascertain if a landing by the British troojts had 
actually taken place, preparatory to his making a call ttii the 
county militia to enforce their exj)ulsi()ii. These |.arlieulars 
were explained to the multitude assembled in liie street l>y 
W. H. Eagers, Esq., district attorney, who state<l in his n- 
marks. tliat the necessary legal measures would 1m l.ikrii. and 
on the return of the express, if it was fouml nec.'oary to el.iiMi 
the aid of our militia to enforce them, due notice would lie 
given. 

Four o'clock P. M.: The express has just returne<l and 
reports that a small band of British Indians had lamh-d on 
Grand island, and a large boat load of tho royalists allemptod 



264 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

to reach the same spot this morning, but were forced to return 
to the Canada shore with the loss of six killed. 

We give the above statement of the course pursued by 
our citizens as a precaution to the people abroad, from be- 
lieving the many and erroneous reports which reach them, 
coming as they do, magnified and distorted in every possible 
shape. 

From one of the officers of the patriot army who arrived 
in town this evening, we have received a verbal account of the 
attempt last night by the royalists to make the descent on 
Navy island. Early on 3^esterday morning the royalists com- 
menced the erection of a battery with six embrasures on the 
Canada shore for the ostensible purpose of raking the south- 
west corner of the island, and under cover of their guns 
allow inganother party to make a descent from a point about 
half a mile above. As soon as their operations were dis- 
covered, the patriots commenced a fire from ten guns, the 
shot nearly destroying the works of the enemy and causing 
men and officers to abandon them. Previous to this, how- 
ever, a continued fire had been kept up from Chippewa to the 
highest point above, which was not returned by the islanders. 

Everything remained quiet until late in the afternoon, no 
persons to be seen on the Canadian side but a few sentinels, 
when the alarm was given that a number of boats had put 
out from Chippewa creek to make an attack. The artillery 
immediately opened upon them, destroying one or two of the 
barges and forcing them to drop back with the current. A 
company of infantry also fired several volleys with effect, the 
number killed not ascertained. 

About 11 o'clock at night, the royalists pushed over from 
the point above, running under the shore of Grand Island in 
this state, but put back after they were convinced by the sig- 



TWO OLD-FASIIIONKJ) P.OYS. 2i\~> 

nals on Grand Island and a few shots, that tlicy wvw (hscov- 
ered. 

They then commenced again to huihl their hivast works 
but were driven out. This morning at day break another at- 
tempt met the like result. ]\IcXab and his men have now re- 
tired upon Chippewa. 

From the Buffalo Commercial, Dec. 2i>, 2 o'clock ]•. m. 
Gov. Head arrived at Chippewa yesterday, with four huinlnd 
volunteers from Cobourg, brought in two steamboats from 
Toronto. 

The cannonading heard early this morning destroyed the 
royalists' hydra-head brest-works again, which seem to sj)ring 
up every night, merely to be cut down in the morning, be- 
tween 60 and 70 guns were fired to accompli.sh their (h-s- 
truction. 

A boat was discovered near the head of Grand ishuid 
early this morning, which was fired upon and several sup- 
posed to have been killed or wounded, as tliose in it were 
observed to carry some of their numbers on shore on reaching 
the Canadian side. It probably contained a ree'mnoitering 
party. 

The redoubtable Col. Sutherland, alias Duke of Lancas- 
ter, has been sent with dispatches to Dr. Duneonih in ihe 
western part of the province. 

Our express met loads of individuals, arnu'd and un- 
armed, together with footmen and horsemen, perhaps si.xly or 
seventy in all, bound post haste for the scene of action. 

A'olunteers seem to be pouring in from all (|uarters. 
Rochester furnishes a full ([uota. 

From the Buffalo Commercial, Dec. :'.(>. The f<.llowing 
was issued this morning, as an extra, from this olliei' : 

Capt. Keeler, of the schooner Agnes Harti)n. and F. Km- 



266 TWO OLD-FASHIONED BOYS. 

mons, oi this city, have just brought news by express from 
Slosser, of an attack made this morning upon the steamboat 
Caroline, lying at that place, which resulted in the destruction 
of the boat, and the death of twenty-two of her crew, only 12 
escaped. 

It is stated that the attack was made about 2 o'clock, by 
five boats of armed loyalists, containing from 100 to 150 men 
who guarded the gangways, and cried " no quarters ! " 

Capt. Appleby, of the Constitution, who went down as 
pilot of the Caroline yesterday, narrowly escaped with his life. 
He received a flesh wound, and was pursued to the house ad- 
joining. — A Mr. Durfer, lately belonging to the Stage oflice at 
the Eagle, in this city, lies on the dock with his brains blown 
out. 

The Caroline was then set on fire, and finally drifted out 
into the current, and went over the falls. 

We give the above, just as it was received, without vouch- 
ing for any of the particulars. It may be proper to add, 
that Captain Keeler, as we are informed, saw the result of the 
scene above described. 

The twelve o'clock express confirms the news of this 
morning. It is said that the Caroline was filled with visitors 
and not soldiers. The word with the loyalists was, " No 
prisoners! — no quarters!" Those who attempted to escape 
were killed, with a few exceptions — the boat was set on fire, 
and with the remainder t^)wed into the current on the Canadian 
side, which soon carried her over the falls. The loyalistsgave 
three cheers for Victoria, and under cover of the darkness, it 
is supposed escaped the fire opaned upon them from the island. 
Those on the boat slept there, because the })ublic houses were 
full. 

Captain IIar(ling, of llic l)rig Indiana, escaped with a 



TWO OLD-FASHIOXKI) 150YS. 2()7 

severe wound in the head : only one mnn was found on the 
shore, the one above mentioned, the rest reported missing — 
there is little doubt but they went over the Mh with the l)urn- 
ing steamboat. 

This piece of " news " reached the settlement four months 
after it was printed, and it did not reach the Intelligencer 
office until a week after its occurrence. Sympathy for the 
Canadian patriots was expressed in the neighborhood and a 
few secret lodges were organized and a rendezevous had on 
the St. Lawrence. Some few enlisted in the foolish cause, 
and some lost their lives in the " Battle of the Windraill," 
others were executed at Kingston, and still others banished to 
A"an Dieman's land. 

These events did in no wise interfere with the school, 
which had now really entered upon a new era in the matter 
of learning. For a wonder the blue beech gads were not once 
used, and the teaching of manners went hand in hand with 
grammar. The boys removed their hats when greeting their 
elders, and the girls courtesied. 

Joby set sail on an unknown .sea one noon, when, with 
an innate love of mischief, some of his com])anions had re- 
moved and eaten every scrap of the lunch in his basket, and 
then filled it with grass. 

"It's just too mean, Joby, and you shall liave lialf of 
mine," said Nancy IMarceau. Job felt meaner than ever. I'ut 
he somehow just couldn't refuse. That night he ••.•n-rird her 
books, and as her home was reached he liandod tlicin back to 
her with the grammar open at " Conjugation of N'crbs." It w;i> 
what the parents pronounced a " .silly mess," runniu-z bkc tiii> : 

I h)vo, We love. 

Thou lovest. You love, 

He loves, Tlu-y love. 



268 TWO OLD-PASHIOXED BOYS. 

Job let go of the book and ran like a deer as if to get 
away from his guilty self. Nancy saw him fly around the 
bend, and then her eyes riveted to the open book. The smit- 
ten Job had scrawled with the point of a slate pencil after the 
" simple declarative sentence, first person, singular number — " 

" You. " 

Nancy blushed and her eyes snapped at an unconscious 
conquest as she effaced the sly confession, and went to her 
mother to ask if she did right to divide witli Joby. 

'' Quite right, Nanny, but you had best not let yoUr fa- 
ther know because he is having trouble with Mr. Collins, " 

But Nancy did tell her father, and got a scolding whicli 
did not hurt much as she was expecting a storm. 

The school days of Ben and Job and their companions 
sped by with incidents and accidents, pleasures, disappoint- 
ments, dreams and occasional hard knocks as they neared the 
activities of life. They fished, hunted and boated ; named 
each rock and beach after those in which the}'- fancied they 
saw a resemblance to some described in their geographies ; had 
a hundred hairbreadth escapes from death, and surviving 
were the better fitted for the battles of life which all too soon 
fell upon their shoulders at the death of their father. Work 
and worry, toil and slave, was their lot before their school 
da3^s should have been ended. Thus were they developed 
into hardy young men with a generation, who, seconding the 
efforts of the pioneers, have transformed a wilderness into a 
land smiling with peace and plenty. 



The Last Haul. 

" Bono Marccau, I know you didn't s[)t'ak to nic sciicc I 
was a kid, but here's a matter what's got to be talked al)out. 
I want yer Nancy ; she wants me. I'm fair, so I ]»ronnsed 
her I'd speak if I had to do ye, ole man, but I 'low 'twon't 
make no great ' difF' one way or t'other." 

Did ever a young man make so long and pointed a 
speech to a prospective father-indaw? Jol)y Collins was not 
bashful. Besides he had taken u]) and cherished for many 
years his father's grudge against old Marceau, whose charac- 
teristic reply was equally pointed : 

" No ; dod gast ye, no ! " 

The interview ended a])rui)tiy as it began. .\ little lal. r 
in the day Ben Collins, .loby's brother, came lalteringly u|. 
the lane to see old Bone on an entirely different niission. 

"Good morning, Mr. ]\hirceau." he said, "w..uld you 
give US another live vears on tlie mortgage-/ We e.iii nol 
])ay more than llie iiileresi (oday. l.nt if w.' have h;.ls tlii< 
season our tisliiiig will ^ivi' us a .-laii. 

" Ben Collins, your father injured me. and I will not ar- 
cornmodate one of your luuue. (iit right ollen these piiuuses 



270 THE LAST HAUL. 

and don't let me see your foce 'till you come with principal 
and interest, and that's the hull on't. Now go ! " 

Insulted and disheartened, the young man turned home- 
ward, while his obdurate creditor shuttled down a path to the 
water. 

It was a dull November day and old Bone, in a sullen 
mood, alone walked the shore of a bight in one of the Great 
Lakes. The water was lazily lapping the rocky ledges ns the 
dead seas soberly followed each other shoreward from the lake 
as if wearied with the tossing they had received in the gale of 
the previous night. The whole sky was heavy with dark 
clouds that moved not. Sea gulls were bold in their pursuit 
of dead or disabled tish, and Bone noticed how distinctly the 
white wings flashed against the leaden sky. The dull waters 
gave back no reflection save here and there that of a dirty leg- 
of-mutton sail that in the absence of sunlight appeared almost 
white. The atmosphere was hazy, and the distant shore 
loomed above the horizon as if rising on tiptoe to see what old 
Bone was storming about now. 

Seventy years, man and boy, he had been fisherman and 
sailor, and as he passed the Collins boys washing and iiiend- 
ing their nets a pang of jealousy shot into his soul, and his 
heart grew heavy with his own unfitness for the activities of 
life. Hardship and exposure had been his lot, and now, 
drawn with rheumatic pains, his life of idleness was worse 
than a prison. He wandered slowly along the bare rocks 
where for years his seines had bagged loads of fish, and fell 
to observing the weather after the manner of those who per- 
petuate the habit when retired from the water. 

" The herring should run the shores this day if ever, " ho 
said half to the kingfisher that rasped a daring salute as he 
shot into a dead pine. "Just the day, just the wcathei', just 







SPINNING Ol-T THE (IKKAT SEINE. 



THE LAST IIAT'L. 271 

GVerythiiig Imt lisb, " he continued, searching tlie receding 
bottom as if to explore the depths beyond. Then his eyes 
lifted to the gulls. 

" Great Ingens ! Them birds is flockin' just like there 
be fish under 'em. If my eyes wuz ten years younger, so I 
could bleeve 'em, I'd swar ther ware a school 'o hcrrin' takin' 
soundin's out thar." 

Watching the gulls which it seemed were mobilizing 
under a gray-backed leader, the old fisherman moved fai'ther 
down the point with more animation. The noisy squawking 
of these garbagers of the sea reached his ears as they assem- 
bled from north, south, east and west, some seeming to drop 
from the very zenith. lie gazed intently at the uiiu>:ual dem- 
onstration. 

'• Fish, or wind? " he queried, as a little ripple, not un- 
like a cat's paw, broke the glassy surface. 

" They be flockin' shoreward, " he exclaimed, as the birds 
chased each other like snowflakes, the mass rolling over and 
over itself, but unmistakably heading toward shoal water. 
From exhaustion the old fisherman's gaze drojjped downward. 
Then he winked hard and rubbed his eyes. Only a few feet 
from the shore and just under the surface a dark streak wj-.s 
advancing toward him, and growing bigger with every wave. 
It was wedge-shaped and squirming, writhing and rolling, the 
point suddenly turned up shore sweeping away in a graceful 
curve like the tail of a comet. 

"Fish! Fish, sartin's my head's lookin' for'ard," he 
fairly shouted. 

Then he started to carry the news to his neighbor fisher- 
men, paused, then sat down. " For why," thought he, " should 
I tell Ben and Job Collins. If luck fails them this fall their 
farm's a goner. Twenty years ago their fatlu'r, old Hank, cut 



112 



THE LAST HAUL. 



my seine an' I never had the fust chanst to even up fair, 
Aint they beauties ; millions on 'em, an' them fools don't 
know's ther's a fish anigh the shore. Show ! Bone, you'r grow- 
in' meaner and fooler, no mistake, but thet thar Job's payin' 
too stiddy attention to my Nan, and no Marceau shall marry 
a Collins while I live. But she's dead set on Joby, she is, and 
I'm sorry to disappint her. Tell them ? In course I will, " 
and he hurried to the sons of the man against whom he held 
a grudge although the grave had closed between them. He 
gave orders like a ship's first officer : 

" Boys, ther a big school hit agin the shore ! Out and 
make the biggest haul ever made. Off with yer boat and run 
the old 'man-killer' around shiploads on 'em." 

The old man sprang into the boat and seized an oar, the 
Collins boys, owners of the biggest seine on the sliore, following 
in dumb surprise, while those who fished for a "hand-share/' 
wild with visions conjured by old Bone's excitement, grasped 
tlie oars and sent the heavy boat around the course spinning 
out the great seine as it never went before. Soon the outer 
jackstaff was tossed over, a heavy rope was made fast to it and 
the boat landed not far from its starting point. The seine lay 
out a full three-quarters of a mile in a semi-circle, the buoys 
marking tiie position where it lay fishing twenty feet top and 
bottom. The ropes, attached to either end, were carried to 
snatch blocks on the shore. With the aid of a horse at one 
line and a windlass at the other the hauling of the great bag 
shoreward began with a lively shout from the strong throats 
of the lusty lisiici-nian now faii-ly wihl with excitement. Tlie 
oM man who had so uncci-cnioniously ci, smncd con^.iiiand led 
and clu'crcMl the iiu'U in the hai'd, wet task and seemed ani- 
mated with the vigor of youth as the jacks dragged slowly 
home. Zip ! Splash ! A silver streak shoots over the cork- 



1'HE LAST IIATL. '27:^ 

line and drops outside into deep water and freedom. Tin- 
fishermen have lost a fine sahnon. The jacks.are liovc Ikhiic ; 
the lead-Hne hitches on the rough bottom ; the fish break the 
surface and bag the net outward as they are drawn into small- 
er compass. The men tug at the lines, the corks bob under 
as the finny prisoners make a frantic rush for deep water only 
to be hurled back by the straining meshes. Now a long, 
strong pull and all together as the jacks are landed high and 
dry, and scoops are brought to land the captive beauties whose 
beauty is entirely lost upon their captors. Again and again 
is felie net thrown until it is returned empty. Meantime tlie 
dressers have come from up and (h)\vn the shore, and each iish 
is deftly prepared for market in just three moves. Frolicsome 
lads and lassies they when work is over. At last the final 
basket offish has been washed and salted. Then the old fish- 
erman who had worked with untiring energy wearily sat down 
upon an overturned fisli box. 

"A hundred and twenty barrels, " he mnttered, " i'ood 
for an even thousand dollars if a cent. Xevt'r the likes dfit 
on this shore, never — an' I told Old Hank's boys. I (l(»'no, 
spose I may's well make a day of it. Joby, come here. You 
can have Nan an' I giv(^ in. Take her for yourn an deal fair 
by her. " 

He was pale and trembling. " Boys, " he .'^aid slowly. 
" its my last haul, the biggest ever made and I gin it to yer 
free. Lord — help — me." And as he fell his soul went out 
on that unknown deep without compass or rudder. 



THE END. 



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SEPT 68 



